Sonam Lhosar

Tamang New Year

The word Lho means “year,” and Sar means “new,” so Lhosar refers to the beginning of the new year. The Tamang ethnic community celebrates Sonam Lhosar, their New Year festival. It is the most important and largest festival of the Tamang people. The Tamang community observes it widely across Nepal, as well as in parts of Northeast India, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

The Tamang have a distinct culture, language, dress, and social tradition that sets them apart from other ethnic groups. Many Tamangs follow Buddhism. The name “Tamang” is believed to come from two words Ta (horse) and Mang (trader) suggesting a historical association with horse trading or riding; in some traditions they are also regarded as horse-warriors.

Sonam Lhosar falls on different dates each year according to the traditional Tibetan lunar calendar. The New Year generally arrives on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which corresponds to Magh Shukla Pratipada in the Nepali calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, this date falls somewhere between early January and mid-February.

On Lhosar, monasteries and stupas are decorated with colorful prayer flags. People wear their traditional costumes and visit these sacred places to perform rituals. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and the festival is celebrated with great joy. The Tamang sing, dance to the beat of the Damphu, share family feasts, and welcome the New Year together. Tamang songs are known as Tamang Selo. There are songs of humor and wit, philosophical thoughts, and of joy and sorrow.

The Tamang calendar also uses a 12-animal cycle to name the years. Each year is associated with one of the animals, from Rat to Boar: Rat (Jiwa), Ox (Lang), Tiger (Tag), Rabbit (Hey), Dragon (Duk), Snake (Dul), Horse (Ta), Sheep/Goat (Luk), Monkey (Te), Rooster (Jya), Dog (Khi), Pig/Boar (Phag). Once the cycle is complete, it repeats.