Lhosar, the Tibetan new year festival ushers in the year of the Iron snake. The Tibetan year ends on the 30th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar. The months are numbered but have no names. The month all has a count of 30 days though sometimes two days counts as one. On the other hand a day may be skipped altogether as for example the 3rd day may be followed by the 5th. A strange system but adjustments have to be made with the phase of the moon, which has a cycle of 29 and half days. In the end the year still has 360 days.

Lhosar is a time for merriment and prayer and besides the Tibetans, many communities from the mountainous regions like the sherpas, manageys, Tamangs and Gurungs also celebrate their own versions of Lhosar. Much like dashain shopping for Hindus, Lhosar shopping also precedes the festival. An interesting fact is that maby from these communities also celebrate Fashain Losar officially begins on the 2nd day of the last month with a puja in every household. A special thukpa made of nine ingredients is prepared on this day. This is appropriately called Guthuk as the word Gu means nine. When the puja is over the guthuk symbolizes a demon (some make a figure of a demon) and is ceremoniouslu thrown away to represent the throwing away of all bad luck or ill omen which is known as dasa. On the 30th day everything possible is meticulously cleaned including the house, clothes, utensils, furniture and oneself. This is also the day to replace old things with new ones and  according to one’s capacity and wishes as much new things as possible are brought into the house.

The idea is to have a new beginning or a fresh start and the hope that many new things will enter the home through the year. In the evening begins the decorations. Specially prepared food called Khabshe, which comes in many forms, are stacked up. These are cooked many days lhosar. The night is for prayer, lamas are called in to pray all night. In the villages there is a belief that the first person to fetch water at first light has possession of the purest water which is then treated as a holy water. People can be seen standing in the dark looking at their palms. As soon as one can see the print on ones palm in the dim morning light, he rushes to fetch water. On the 1st day of the new year the first meal consists of chango, a broth. Comprising as alcoholic drink made from either rice or barley, mixed with tsampa, churpi, a cheeselike milk product, and the sweetmeats. The alcoholic drink by itself is called chang and is consumed in great quantities. Boudha near new road were once famous for chang and tourists could be seen flocking to chang joints as they were called to try the exotic drink. On this day people visit holy sites most notably Boudha and Swyambhunath for prayers and to meet with lamas. At this time monk in their monastries all over the country perform elaborate pujas to seek blessings and protection for all in the new year.

 Many visitors arrive in kathmandu from distant places to be with their relatives and as a pilgrimage to Boudha and Swyambhu. In the evening the more westernized youngsters slip out the head for the discotheques in town. By tradition these communities are very respectful of their elders, a trait the rest of the world would do well to emulate. To really have a good time, they have to be away from the praying, reproachful eyes of the seniors. However, many stay home to entertain their guests. On the 3rd day there is a puja at Boudha after which the real feasting and parties begin. Relatives and friends invite each other over for a meal and this may carry on for a week or more. Huge plates of food containing sweets, fruits and khabshe are laid out. Much mear, noodles, chang and distilled rakshi is consumed accompanied by singing and dancing. It is customary to entertain guests with song and dance and quite naturally the guests join in. outside, there are masked dances and at Boudha a special Lhamu opera is performed. This opera follows an age old story, which is narrated through songs with the accompaniment of music. The dancers are both male and female in colourful costumes. The opera however is difficult to understand and ew people can really grasp the story. The length of lhosar celebrations depends on how many relatives and friends one has. In remote areas, the distances between villages also play a part as people travel for days to visit relatives. So the festivities may stretch for weeks but all in all a good time is had by all concerned.