Tamu Lhosar
Nepal is richer in ethnic diversity so as cultural diversity. Among them, Gurung is one of the major ethnic communities. “Tamu” another name for Gurung People. Different Geography and community, in Nepal, celebrate the same day of the year with different cultural values and social assumptions. Similarly, the Gurung community celebrates their New Year as Tamu Lhosar.
Poush 15th, each year has a similar story. Gurung Community celebrates it as Tamu Lhosar in a big celebration with great enthusiasm. Lhosar is when the Gurung community attendants in a new year. Tibetan Lunar calendar has 12 years and 12 different animals – garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat represent each year. “Lho” means new Year. Lhosar is an annual fulfill festival to farewell the existing Lho season and welcome a new one.
Gurung community celebrates the festival Lhosar by reuniting with all family members, relatives, and family friends. On the day, community people visit the gumba and do their prayers and receive blessings for prosperity and happiness. They decorate monasteries with colorful lights. Every home raises a prayer flag on top of its roof. In current days, most people from Gurung Community have migrated to the cities.
Gurung Attire
Despite the increasing rate of migration, they form a community called Samaj Ghar according to their former villages to keep their traditions alive. During the Lhosar day, everyone returns to their own samaj Ghar to celebrate Lhosar in traditional attire and food to gather at a place. The males wear “Bhangra“, a white cloth shirt-like apparel that they tie across the chest and open like a bag at the back. The “Bhangra” still is very useful to carry the things, and a “ Kachhad “, like a short sarong or kilt. Gurung women, as well as children and adolescents, wear maroon velvet “Ghalek” and “gunyo-cholo“, paired with gold accessories and semi-precious stone necklaces.
In Kathmandu, Tundikhel is the major place for the celebration. Food and dance are a big part of the festival. Not only the Gurung people but also other people of Kathamndu join the celebration as an invitee or a friend. We can observe the social and religious harmony of Nepalese people even during this festival time. People serve varieties of meat, snacks, and food at celebration place. Sel Roti served with a fresh pickle and local chicken curry is assumed the special dish of the festival.
The elders sing “thado bhaka” whereas others dance to “chudka” (a fast-paced dance style) to perform during the celebration. This is a very good opportunity for Youngers born and raised in the city to get a good exposure of their culture through it and it helps keep the traditions alive. Greetings are exchanged, long-lost friends and relatives are met and new members are introduced to the samaj (community) on the day of Lhosar as the prayer flags flutter in the wind from the rooftops.