Pokhara—Tamu Lhosar is being marked all across the globe today. Tamu is an indigenous community from Nepal and they are also known as Gurung people. Lshosar means a New Year as per their calendar. A large chunk of Gurung people also call Lhochhar to the Lhosar.
As per the calendar, from today, Mirga Barga (deer year) has been started, leaving the dog year. Gurung people celebrate Tamu Lhosar every year in the day of Poush 15 of Bikram Sambat. As many Gurung people have migrated to city and plain areas for job opportunity, better education and health care services in recent decades, they celebrate Lhosar going to monastery in collective way.
This year too, people from different villages and districts have arrived Pokhara to celebrate Tamu Lhosar. On this occasion, Tamu Pye Lhu Association had organized four day long Lhosar festival in Shakti Ghat Pokhara. Thousands of Gurung people lit butter and oil lams nearby monastery at Shakti Ghat. Similarly, scores of Gurung people also reached Bauddha Arghau Sadan at Ramghat to lit lams and celebrate Tamu Lhosar.
Various cultural programs were organized in both of the monasteries. Earlier, Tamu Dhin Kaski also celebrated Lhosar greetings exchange program in Naya Bazaar Pokhara. In Gurung calendar, there are 12 lhos–garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat. Every year, the Lho is changed.
Pictures: Rup Narayan Dhakal
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