'losar'-a Festival of the Monpas / Sherdukpens

"The 'Losar' festival is associated or connected withHowever, on the last day of the 'Losar' festival, right
the tribes of 'Monpas' and 'Sherdukpens' and it isfrom dawn to dusk, the priest (Lamas) have to
accounted as the new year festival by the peopleremain busy and active both at the monastery and
following the 'Mahayana' sect of Buddhism. 'Losar'at the village for various functions. On that very day
festival is celebrated continuously for seven days, the 'Lamas' are invited to every house in the village
annually amidst great enthusiasm and with pomp andin the wee hours of the morning to usher a very
gaiety by the Monpas and Sherdukpens. Generally,happy and prosperous new year to the respective
the 'Losar' is celebrated during the last part Januaryfamily members of the house. When this function is
and in the first part of February.about LOSAR :over. All the villages go to the to after prayers, by
The 'Losar' festival being with the performance oftouching the image the image of lord Buddha (Sange-
'Tongchin' worship in the village monasteriesSomdonde) to receive blessings from him. Next, all
(Gompas). According to the existing belief, afterthe villagers gathers in a particular place, which is far
Tongchin, this two tribes performs 'Marme' worshipaway from the village and enjoy a feast there. The
to have a good and beautiful life in the next birth.young men and women of the village take active
Next, they performs worships known as 'Singhe' andpart in songs and dances and enjoy by sprinkling
'Seje' which are performed for the welfare of thewater on each other. After this, they returned back
entire village communities, which is followed byto their respective house, where they feed their
worship of 'Sojan' meant to get together after death.domestic animals and pets. In the family, the young
Lastly, they perform worship like 'Sechang', 'Semar'ones take the blessings from the elderly people by
and 'Dadar' for longetivity.prospering before them.
These various kinds of worships are performed onConclusion :
different days by the Buddhist priest (Lamas) whereIn this way, the 'Monpas' and 'Sherdukpens'
different holy scriptures are read. With othercelebrated their most popular 'Losar' festival with
obligations, the local distilled drink is a must for thegreat joy, gaiety and devotion. There by forgetting
Monpas and Sherdukpens. People rise early, takesall their hardships and difficulties of the past.
bath, put on new cloths and prepare food and drinkIn addition to this, on the occasion of the 'Losar'
for themselves as well as for the guest on the firstfestival, a variety of pantomime dances such as Yak
day of the festival. Then, they starts visiting theirdance, Ajilamu dance, deer dance are performed by
neighbours houses and the visitors are entertainedvarious dancers and artists at the respective village
with great hospitality by feeding them with food andmonasteries (Gompa).
drink.