Losar is the celebration of the Tibetan New Year, the festivities of which starts on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar and last for 3 days. This year, it will start on 10 February according to the Gregorian calendar. Observed by Tibetans, Tibetan Buddhists and Bhutanese all over the world, it is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of the religion.
When is Losar Celebrated?
Losar festival in India is celebrated in February and March by the followers of Tibetan Buddhism. The festival is celebrated for three days with each day having its own significance.
| Day | Date |
| Day 1: Lama Losar | 8th February, Thursday |
| Day 2: Gyalpo Losar | 9th February, Friday |
| Day 3: Choe-Kyong Losar | 10th February, Saturday |
Losar Meaning
Also known as the Tibetan New Year, Losar is a festival celebrated by Tibetan Buddhists across the globe. Tibetans celebrate the festival as New Year and the beginning of the harvest season.
Is Losar a public holiday?
Losar is observed as a public holiday in Tibet (autonomous region of China), Bhutan, Sikkim & Ladakh (India), and Nepal. In other regions of India, it is considered a restricted holiday.
Losar History and Significance
Losar 2024
The celebrations of Losar date back to the pre-Buddhist period when Tibetans used to follow the Bon religion. A spiritual ceremony was organized every winter in which devotees offered incense smoke to local deities and spirits, in the belief that they would ensure the wellbeing of the people and their surroundings. This religious festival became a farmers’ festival that was held during the blossoming of flowers on apricot trees.
During the reign of the 9th Tibetan King, Pude Gungyal, an elderly woman taught people to calculate time-based on different phases of the moon. It was after the foundation of the lunar calendar, that the farmers’ festival took the form of Losar.
Losar Celebrations across India
Losar 2024
Losar is a 3-day festival (the celebrations last up to 15 days) in which people clean their houses thoroughly, wear new clothes and offer freshly cooked food to their god. The main celebrations take place for the first three days.
Day 1: Lama Losar
On the first day, people clean their houses and decorate them with Tibetan Losar decorations. A special Losar festival noodle soup called Gu-Thuk is prepared and a beer-based beverage named Changkoi is distributed among the people gathered.
Day 2: Gyalpo Losar
The second day is known as Gyalpo Losar or King’s Losar and involves holding religious ceremonies. People visit local monasteries and give gifts to the monks. Firecrackers are also burnt as they are believed to scare away any evil spirits lurking around.
Day 3: Choe-Kyong Losar
On the third day, people wake up early, wear new clothes, present offerings to gods and worship them. Families unite and feast on kapse (a kind of cake) and chaang (a local alcoholic drink). People greet each other by wishing ‘Happy Losar 2024’ or “Losar Tashi Delek”. The primary Losar festival ends on the third day but the celebrations continue for 12 more days, where people visit relatives and friends.
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Losar Eight Auspicious Symbols
Tibetan Buddhism has eight auspicious symbols that are believed to be the signs of good fortune. These eight symbols are the parasol or umbrella, the golden fish, the conch shell, the vase of treasure, the infinite knot, the lotus flower, the flag, and the wheel.
- The Parasol or Umbrella: The Parasol or Umbrella in Tibetan Buddhism symbolises a device that protects from the heat. The Parasol represents Buddha’s teachings that protect from the “heat”, which is lust, greed, and obstacles towards enlightenment.
- The Golden Fish: The golden fish is known as Sernya in Tibet, which symbolises liberation from the birth and death cycle.
- The Conch Shell: The Dhunk or Conch Shell represents the sovereignty of Buddha’s teachings. It is a symbol of great spiritual energy, and it is believed to cast out evil spirits.
- The Vase of Treasure: It is also known as Bumpa, it symbolises the limitless spiritual wealth of Buddha.
- The Infinite Knot: The Knot of Infinity represents that time is just an illusion and Dharma is a continuous process. It is also known as Pata, which means everything is interconnected with each other.
- The Flag: The flag represents the victory of Buddha over four obstacles i.e. greed, passion, the fear of death, and emotional degradation.
- The Wheel: The Wheel of Law or Dharmachakra represents the teachings of Buddha. The circular shape symbolises that following the path of enlightenment is the best way out of the endless cycle of birth and death.
- The Lotus Flower: In Buddhism, the lotus flower represents the journey of a person’s soul. It is believed that through the teachings of Buddha, we can achieve pure mind and soul.
Best Places to Observe the Celebrations of Losar
Leh-Ladakh
Ladakh is an amazing destination to celebrate the Losar Festival. You will find the posters of Happy Losar 2024 on the roads and the Tibetan Losar decorations outside their homes. The prime location of celebrations is the Namgyal Monastery to enjoy the Cham Dance performances.
Bodh Gaya
This is the place where Buddha attained enlightenment for the first time. People around the world gather here during the festival to seek blessings and enjoy the celebrations.
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Bodh Gaya
Sikkim
Sikkim is a popular destination to witness the Tibetan Losar 2024 festival. Rumtek Monastery is a popular place where people gather and celebrate the festival with the Lama dance. Gutor Cham is performed by the monks during the Losar Festival Sikkim.
Arunachal Pradesh
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is famous for the Losar festival celebrations. People clean their homes and welcome the relatives and outsiders with a happy heart. The festival is celebrated for fifteen days in Tawang.
Himachal Pradesh
There are many places for the Losar festival in Himachal Pradesh. Some of the popular places are Mcleodganj, Spiti, Manali, and Shimla.
- Places to Stay: Hotels in Dharamshala, Hotels in Manali
Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type
| Festivals in India | Day | Date | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Mon | 01-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Lohri | Sat | 13-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Makar Sankranti | Sun | 14-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Pongal | Mon | 15-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti | Wed | 17-Jan | Restricted Holiday |
| Republic Day | Fri | 26-Jan | Gazetted Holiday |
| Losar | Sat | 10-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Basant Panchmi | Wed | 14-Feb | Restricted Holiday |
| Guru Ravidas Jayanti | Sat | 24-Feb | Gazetted Holiday |
| Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Wed | 6-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Mahashivratri | Fri | 8-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Holi | Mon | 25-March | Gazetted Holiday |
| Good Friday | Fri | 29-Mar | Gazetted Holiday |
| Easter Day | Sun | 31-Mar | Restricted Holiday |
| Gudi Padwa | Tue | 9-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Eid-ul-Fitr | Wed | 10-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Vaisakhi (Vishu) | Sat | 13-Apr | Restricted Holiday |
| Rama Navami | Wed | 17-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Sun | 21-Apr | Gazetted Holiday |
| Rabindra Jayanti | Wed | 8-May | Restricted Holiday |
| Buddha Purnima (Vesak) | Thu | 23-May | Gazetted Holiday |
| Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) | Mon | 17-Jun | Restricted Holiday |
| Rath Yatra | Sun | 7-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Muharram (Ashura) | Wed | 17-Jul | Gazetted Holiday |
| Independence Day | Thu | 15-Aug | Gazetted Holiday |
| Parsi New Year’s Day (Nauraz) | Thu | 15-Aug | Public Holiday |
| Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi) | Mon | 19-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Janmashtami | Mon | 26-Aug | Restricted Holiday |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Sat | 7-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Onam | Sun | 15-Sep | Restricted Holiday |
| Milad-un-Nabi or Id-e- Milad | Mon | 16-Sep | Gazetted Holiday |
| Gandhi Jayanti | Wed | 02-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dussehra | Sat | 12-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Valmiki Jayanti | Thu | 17-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Karva Chauth | Sun | 20-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Dhanteras | Tue | 29-Oct | Restricted Holiday |
| Kali Puja | Thu | 31-Oct | Gazetted Holiday |
| Halloween Day | Thu | 31-Oct | No Holiday |
| Diwali | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Lakshmi Puja | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Karnataka Rajyotsava | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Kerala Piravi | Fri | 1-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Govardhan Puja | Sat | 2-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Bhai Dooj | Sun | 3-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Chhath Puja | Thu | 7-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Guru Nanak Jayanti | Fri | 15-Nov | Gazetted Holiday |
| Christmas | Wed | 25-Dec | Public Holiday |
FAQs
Q. What Tibetan year is 2024?
A. The Tibetan year in 2024 is the year 2151.
Q. What do they eat in Tibetan New Year 2024?
A. The famous dishes of the Tibetan New Year are Guthuk, Chaang, and Kapse.
Q. Losar festival is celebrated in which state?
A. Losar is celebrated among the Tibetan community in different states like Sikkim, Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
Q. When was the Losar festival of Arunachal Pradesh first celebrated?
A. The festival of Losar can be traced back to the Tibetan pre-Buddhist period (127 BC – 629 AD).