Gurung New Year – Tamu Lhosar
Tamu Lhosar is one of the major festivals of Nepal. Nepal is richer in ethnic diversity so as cultural diversity. Among them, Gurung is one of the major ethnic communities. They are also called ” Tamu”. Based on geography and community, in Nepal, the same day of the year is celebrated with different cultural values and social assumptions.
Push 15th, each year has a similar story. Gurung Community celebrates it as Tamu Lhosar in a big celebration with great enthusiasm. Lhosar is when the Gurung community attendants in a new year. Tibetan Lunar calendar has 12 years and each year is represented by 12 different animals – garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger, and cat which are called “the.” Each Lhosar is celebrated to farewell the existing Lho season and welcome a new one.
Gurung community celebrates the festival Lhosar by reuniting with all family members, relatives, and family friends. On the day, community people visit the gumba and do their prayers and receive blessings for prosperity and happiness. They decorate monasteries with colorful lights. Every home raises a prayer flag on top of its roof. In current days, most of the people from the Gurung Community have migrated to the cities. Despite the increasing rate of migration, they form a community called Samaj Ghar according to their former villages to keep their traditions alive. During the Lhosar day, everyone returns to their samaj Ghar to celebrate Lhosar in a traditional attire and food to gather at a place. The male wear “Bhangra“, a white cloth shirt-like apparel tied across the chest and open like a bag at the back which was used for carrying things back in the days, and a “ Kachhad “, like a short sarong or kilt. Gurung women, as well as children and adolescents, wear maroon velvet “Ghalek” and “guny-cholo“, paired with gold accessories and semi-precious stone necklaces.
In Kathmandu, Tundikhel is the major place for the celebration. Food and dance are a big part of the festival. Not only the Gurung people, but also other people of Kathamndu join the celebration as an invitee or a friend. We can observe the social and religious harmony of Nepalese people even during this festival time. Varieties of meat, snacks, and food are served at the celebration place. Sel Roti served with fresh pickel and local chicken curry is assumed the special dish of the festival. The elders sing “thado bhaka” whereas others dance to “chudka” (a fast-paced dance style) to perform during the celebration. This is a very good opportunity for Youngers born and raised in the city to get a good exposure of their culture through it and it helps keep the traditions alive. Greetings are exchanged, long lost friends and relatives are met and new members are introduced to the samaj (community) on the day of Lhosar as the prayer flags flutter in the wind from the rooftops.