Nepal's indigenous Tamang community celebrate 'Year of Snake'
Sonam Lhosar: Tamang Community's New Year Celebration in Nepal
The Tamang community in Nepal celebrated Sonam Lhosar, marking the start of the year of the snake, with vibrant festivities. This event took place in Kathmandu and other regions where the Tamang people predominantly reside. The Tamang, a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, make up about 5.6% of Nepal's population according to the 2021 census.
What is Sonam Lhosar?
Sonam Lhosar is the New Year festival for the Tamang community, celebrated according to the Manjushree calendar. The festival is divided into 12 animal categories, and this year marks the year of the snake. 'Lho' means year, 'Sar' means new, and 'Sonam' refers to the Tamang people.
Celebration Highlights
The festival features dancing Shamans, parades of Buddhist monks, and the raising of a large snake cutout. Homes and neighborhoods are cleaned, holy clothes are hoisted, and pooja is performed to worship Lord Buddha. People gather to exchange greetings, take blessings from monks and elders, and enjoy feasts with dishes like pig, duck, and chicken meat, along with sweet desserts.
Community Gathering
Keshav Tamang, a participant in the celebrations, emphasized the importance of gathering in places like Tundikhel to celebrate together and spread the message of unity within the Tamang community.
Doubts Revealed
Tamang Community
The Tamang community is a group of people who live in Nepal. They belong to the Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and have their own unique culture and traditions.
Sonam Lhosar
Sonam Lhosar is a New Year festival celebrated by the Tamang community. It marks the beginning of a new year according to their traditional calendar.
Year of the Snake
In the Tamang calendar, each year is associated with an animal. The Year of the Snake is one of these years, similar to how we have different zodiac signs.
Manjushree calendar
The Manjushree calendar is a traditional calendar used by the Tamang community. It is different from the regular calendar we use and is based on lunar cycles.
Shamans
Shamans are people who are believed to have special powers to communicate with spirits and perform rituals. They play an important role in Tamang festivals.
Buddhist monks
Buddhist monks are religious people who follow the teachings of Buddhism. They often participate in religious ceremonies and festivals.
Pooja
Pooja is a religious ritual performed to worship and show respect to gods and goddesses. It is an important part of many festivals in Nepal and India.
Keshav Tamang
Keshav Tamang is likely a person from the Tamang community who spoke about the importance of unity during the Sonam Lhosar festival.
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