What Is Lhochar? Tamang New Year, Origins & 12 Lho Cycles

Описание: Lhochar, also known as Lho:sar or Lhosar, is one of the most important and ancient festivals of the Tamang community. Celebrated across Nepal, India, Tibet, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Burma, Laos, and Bhutan, Lhochar marks the New Year based on the traditional lunar system.

⭐ Meaning of Lhochar

‘Lho’ = year, cycle or age

‘Char’ = new
Together, Lhochar means New Year.

Different communities celebrate Lhosar on different dates:

Sonam Lhochar (Tamang) – Magh Shukla Pratipada

Tamu Lhochar (Gurung) – Poush 15

Gyalpo Lhosar (Sherpa) – Falgun Shukla Pratipada

⭐ Cultural & Historical Importance

Linked to a 4650-year-old Chinese lunar tradition

Suppressed during the Rana and Panchayat era but revived after 2046 BS

The Tamang community demands three days of public holiday for Lhochar

Celebrates identity, culture, language, and civilization of Nepal's third-largest indigenous group

⭐ Legends Behind Lhochar

Buddha’s 12 Animals Legend – Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, and Pig

Manjushree (Jampal) – believed to have introduced the Lho cycle and be an ancestor of the Tamang people

Tibetan Tale – linked to King Songtsen Gampo’s minister bringing Princess Kongyoo to Tibet

⭐ The 12 Lho Animal Cycle

Mouse, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog, Pig

Five cycles = 60-year full cycle

Determines a child’s personality, marriage compatibility, months, and even hourly cycles

Scientifically linked to the end of winter (Shishir) and beginning of spring (Basanta)

Symbolizes the Sun’s movement northward (Surya Uttarayan)

✨ Lhochar is not just a festival—it is identity, culture, history, and the celebration of a new beginning.

Source: Mohan Gole, Tamang Maulik Sanskar


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