Annapurna (Kaski), 31st December: The Gurung community of Pokhara celebrated the Gurung New Year and the great festival of Lhosar with joy and enthusiasm throughout the day on Monday, bidding farewell to the vulture class and welcoming the snake class.
The Gurung community celebrated this year’s Lhosar by gathering at Tamu Dhin Nepal, Tamu Phe Lhu Sangh, and Bouddha Arghau Sadan in Pokhara to exchange greetings, visit Buddha, perform pujas, and light lamps. Tamu Dhin Nepal, a Gurung social organization headquartered in Pokhara, organized a Lhosar greeting rally. The rally reached Tamu Dhin Nepal via Chipledhunga, Mahendrapul, and Nayabazar and turned into a Lhosar special program. Where various tableaux and traditional dances were presented.
Other ethnic organizations also expressed solidarity at the event, including representatives from Newa, Khal Kaski, Helmo Samaj, and Tamang, who were present in their respective costumes, reflecting ethnic harmony. The rally reached the premises of Tamu Dhin Nepal and turned into a Lhosar greeting and honor program. The program was inaugurated by the Provincial Chief of Gandaki Province, Dilli Raj Bhatta. At the program, he said that the diversity and cultural traditions of Nepali society are important assets for the world community as well.
Gumba, Ramghat, Pokhara, Tamu Lhosar Photo: By Phatam B. Gurung
Provincial Chief Bhatta also mentioned that preserving the originality of traditional festivals is the main challenge. “The main responsibility now lies with the youth to preserve these important festivals. The teenagers who wear bhangra and kachhad, and ghalek gunyucholi in the rallies of Thonte are becoming more and more common,” he said. “It is our main responsibility to pass on our culture and religion to the next generation. Language, culture, costumes and rituals are the pillars of our ethnic identity and original civilization. It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve and develop such diversity.”
At Tamu Phe Lhu Sangh, a religious organization headquartered in Pokhara, there was also an exchange of greetings, dance performances, a lute, and a tug-of-war competition. A bonfire was lit at the Sangh at 12 midnight on Sunday to welcome the snake class. Chairman Om Bahadur Thimje Tamu informed that from 4 am on the day of Lhosar, the Ghyabris threw Thaso, the Pachyus performed Chyapo Puja, and the Bon Lamas performed Chyeguhyegu (the act of cutting the planet). Along with the act of putting on Ripa by the Pachyus, Ghyabris, and Bon Lamas, an exchange of good wishes, honors, and an open dance competition were organized, he said.
The Buddhist Arghau Sadan, Ramghat, also organized various programs on the day of Lhosar. Since the morning, the program of worshipping the planetary planet, performing planetary peace, visiting the planet, lighting lamps, wearing the Ripa, and donating food was organized, informed Rudra Bahadur Ghale, Chairman of the Buddhist Arghau Sadan, Ramghat.
Overall, this year’s Sapri Lhosar ended with joy and happiness, said Subedar Major Shree Prasad Gurung, acting president of Tamu Dhin Nepal. He informed that Lhosar will be celebrated more effectively next year as well.
