Sonam Lhosar – The New Year of Tamang Community

Sonam Lhosar is the new year of the Tamang community in Nepal and some parts of India. This is an annual celebration that takes part in the Magh month as a Bikram Sambat Calendar and the first day of the new moon. This is a very important festival for the Tamang people, in Nepal, the government of Nepal grants a public holiday on this day.

Nepal is the land of multi-ethnic groups, multi-culture, and multiple traditions so recently Gurung people celebrated Tamu Lhosar. Tamu Lhosar is the new year of the Gurung community same as Sonam Lhosar is the new year of the Tamang Community. In the Tamang language, Lho means year and Sar means new so in the combination of Lhosar is a new year.

In Tamang culture and tradition, they halved years into 12 cycles. Each year different animals such as Cow, Mouse, Pig, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Horse, Tiger, Snake, Dragon, Cat, and Boer. All these animals follow a year and Tamang people count their years on those animals. This festival takes place for 5 days.

In Nepal, Sonam Lhosar celebrates everywhere, especially where the majority of people are Tamang. Such as Kavrepalanchok, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Okhaldunga, Sinduli, Ramechhap, etc. Kathmandu is the center of the different types of ethnic groups so here also this festival is celebrated grandly.

During this festival houses of the Tamang people are decorated with prayer flags and they paint new colors. People will go to the monastery to pray for their ancestors and the welfare of all the living things on this earth. All the family members get together in their house and call their relatives to join a party. At that party, older people put on tika and give blessings to younger people. And of course, eat their traditional foods.

Name of the Animals that indicate Sonam Lhosar

On the occasion of Sonam Lhosar, people will wear their traditional costumes and ornaments. Especially women dressed up beautifully and men as well. Although they both have the same kind of hat. Singing and dancing are also part of this celebration.  

This year Sonam Lhosar going to celebrate Thursday 17th of Magh as per the Nepali calendar. And 30th January 2025 as the English date. Let’s be ready to celebrate this great festival.