Losar: The Tibetan New YearÂ
Losar is the Tibetan language translates to New Year. Lo means year and sar means new. It is one of the major festivals of the Tibetan people as it marks the beginning of a new year of the Tibetan lunar calendar. This year, the first day of Losar falls on March 3rd which is the start of the year 2149 according to the Tibetan calendar. While official celebrations start on the first day of the new year, preparations begin much earlier. Tibetans spend days leading up to the new year engaged in rituals to rid oneself of the negativities and bad luck of the previous year. This period which starts two days ahead of Losar is known as Gutor. The first Gutor or Nyi Shu Gu falls on the 29th…