Lhosar Celebrations Begin with Grandeur in San Francisco, Week-long Programs Underway

San Francisco, California, USA

Lhosar, a significant festival for Buddhists, has begun to be celebrated with great fanfare in California, USA. The Tamang Cooperation Society of California is celebrating Manjushree Sambat 2862 Sonam Lhosar, the Ta Lho (Year of the Horse), which commenced on January 18, through a week-long series of programs.

The festival began on the first day of Lhosar, Magh Shukla Pratipada, with the changing of the Darjyu (prayer flags) and the exchange of greetings at the Tamang Community Center in El Sobrante, California. On the same day, the Tamang Society held a press conference as part of another program to provide information about other activities scheduled for the festival. 

Suraj Pakhrin, President of the Society, informed that programs including the changing of Darjyu and performing prayers in the homes of the Tamang community in the Bay Area have been ongoing since the 19th.

"Prayers in monasteries and homes, planting Darjyu in public places, distributing Chho Prasad, exchanging greetings, receiving Tika and blessings from elders, meeting with female relatives and kin, and collective feasts and cultural programs will continue throughout the week," President Pakhrin said.

Cultural Night on January 24

A cultural night has been organized for the end of the week on January 24 to provide entertainment and involve all communities. Kumar Dong, former president of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, stated during the press conference that a cultural exhibition has been organized to maintain cultural identity and existence on foreign soil.

Programs to collect funds through various sponsorships and ticket sales are underway. President Pakhrin informed that there is a plan to save $120,000 after expenses. He stated that this amount will be used to pay off the debt of the Tamang Cultural Center. The society purchased a building and land for the Tamang Cultural Center here on April 10, 2024. All collected funds are being spent on that center.

Famous singer Raju Lama is set to arrive from Nepal for the cultural night. Abil Tamang, the cultural coordinator, informed that Lama, who has established an identity with 'The Mongolian Heart,' will be supported by another singer, Hem Waiba, while supermodel and dancer Rashmi Tamang will perform dances and Phinjo Sherpa will serve as the DJ.

Along with Pakhrin and Dong, social workers Resham Bal, Sangam Lama, and Sanukanchi Tamang provided information about the activities during the press conference.

The Lhosar festival, said to have started about 4,500 years ago, is celebrated based on the lunar calendar not only in Nepal but also in countries including China, Mongolia, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, and India. In Nepal, communities such as Tamang, Hyolmo, Manange, Humli, Dolpo, Tapkegola, Singsa, Tangbe, Thakali, Jirel, Kham Magar, Dura, Bhote, Nesyangba, Sherpa, and Gurung celebrate Lhosar.

'Lho' means year or era, and 'Chhar' means new; thus, Lhosar means New Year. Lho follows a 12-year cycle and repeats after 12 years. The Lhos are named after twelve different animals and birds. Among the twelve Lhos, one changes every year; the day this Lho changes is called Lho Polba, Lho Doba, or Lhosar in the Tamang language.

Photo File: Tamang Cooperation Press Meet

A press conference organized by the Tamang Cooperation Society in San Francisco to provide information about the Lhosar festival. In the conference (from left): Sanukanchi Tamang, Suraj Pakhrin, Kumar Dong, Resham Bal, and Sangam Lama.