Feb 14, 2010

Joyous Losar

Today, February 14th, 2010, is the first day of the year of the Male Iron Tiger. It is now the Tibetan year 2137, and is also the 51th anniversary of the Chinese occupation in Tibet.

Losar: Lo - year, age. sar: - new, fresh.

Losar is a three day festival. On the first day celebrations are usually restricted to the family, with the second and third days being the time to visit and exchange gifts with friends and more distant relatives.

Losar is marked with activities that symbolize purification, and welcoming in the new, and has its roots in pre-Buddhist observances. At a time when the Bon religion was predominant in Tibet, rituals were performed each winter to appease the spirit protectors of the land, and after Buddhism was introduced to the region in the 6th century BCE, the new religion adapted the observance. Since the 13th century, Losar has traditionally fallen on the first day of the first lunar month.

However, before celebrating the coming of a new year, one must deal with unfinished business, and any unhappy memories. So, on the 29th day of the last month in the old year, there is a festival called Gutor, in which everyone cleans their houses and minds. The last day of the old year is spent preparing for the New Year.