What is Tamu Lhosar ?

During the 15th of Poush, we can see the Gurungs adorned in their traditional wear and hurrying towards monasteries or gatherings of their own. The Gurungs or Tamu are one of the Mongolian-featured indigenous clans of Nepal. Whose ancestors trace back to far more northern than Tibet. It is estimated they reached the parts of Nepal before A.D. from Tibet and settled in Khola (an important settlement of Gurung people) around 2000-2500 years ago. 

Traditionally a shamanistic practitioner as well as a mixture of Buddhism and co-existing with local Hindu culture, Gurungs observe many festivals. But ‘ Tamu Lhosar’ remains the main celebration for this community. Lhosar is made up of two words ‘Lho’ meaning ‘year’ and ‘car’ ‘New’. Like their Tibetan origin counterparts Sonam and Gyalpo Lhosar, Tamu Lhosar is also the celebration for welcoming the New Year. But the difference between them is that Sonam Lhosar by Tamang people is celebrated in the Magh Shukla Pratipada and Gyalpo Lhosar by Sherpas in Falgun Shukla Pratipada. As these two Lhosar are based on the movement of the moon, each year the date of the celebration is different. But the celebration of Tamu Lhosar remains the same i.e on the 15th of Poush. The significance of the day is that it is the beginning of shorter nights and longer daytime which is equivalent to warmer days.

Gurungs put a huge emphasis on ‘lho’ or ‘barga’ whether it is for counting the age, their luck throughout the year, or other socio-cultural rites. A continuous circular cycle contains 12 different animal representatives called ‘lho’. Based on the Tibetan ‘lho’ chart with slight altars in it like the Tibetan dragon replaced with garud, pig with deer, rabbit with cat, and Ox with Cow others remain the same. Each New year marks the welcoming of a new ‘lho’ and bidding farewell to the present ‘Lho’. The year of 2023 A.D. is the year of the cat and farewell to the tiger.

The first-ever celebration of it hasn’t been determined yet. But for centuries this festival has been observed by the Gurung community with great faith and joy. Throughout the period the way of celebrating might have some changes but the original intentions of this festival remain the same. A few years back people in villages used to celebrate this day by communal feasting; cooking the uncooked foods brought from their own among their age groups. Now, there is the practice of visiting monasteries wearing a cultural dress, lighting incense, wearing pious thread (riv) prepared by lamas as well as putting the colorful prayer flag which is believed to ward off bad luck and evils. But the gatherings among families and their community still remain the heart of this occasion.