New Year With A Difference - Losar Festival in Ladakh

 

“An unforgettable experience, an otherwise sleepy town comes alive in a riot of colours…”

“A great coming together of tradition and festivity. I’m coming here again!”

“The best New Year celebrations experienced in a long time…”

New beginnings can be welcomed in peace or by dancing the hours away in carefree abandonment. What if you could do both with an added dash of tradition and culture to it? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Read on…

 

The sleepy town of Ladakh is transformed into a melting pot of culture, colour and festivity during the Losar festival (Lo means year and Sar means new). The story behind these New Year celebrations is an interesting one. When the King of Ladakh, Jamyang Namgyal, was setting out on an expedition against the Balistan forces, he was advised by the oracles to wait until the next year. His solution to this problem was bringing forward the New Year celebrations by a month. Since then, it has become a tradition to celebrate the Losar in the eleventh month of the year. It is also the time which marks the end of the harvesting season in Ladakh.

 

The celebrations begin with a Metho ceremony with a fiery procession of people chanting prayers and carrying flaming torches. It is believed to cleanse the bad karma accumulated during the year and chase away evil spirits. Sumptuous feasts for Gods, deities and ancestors are made. Men, women and children participate in decorating domestic shrines. The gompas are elaborately decorated by Ladakhi Buddhists and elaborate offerings called Lama Losar are made.

If you haven’t seen the famous stage fights and fire-torch dance of the Ibex deer, you’re definitely missing something. The Ladakhi performers with their elaborate costumes and permanent smiles can brighten anyone’s day. Music, dance, dramatically staged battles and elaborate feasts add to the joyous atmosphere.

 

Another highlight of this festival is the gastronomical extravaganza it offers. Don’t forget to try the local brewed barley beer, chang or phye mar (sweetened barley flour).

Losar is celebrated by Buddhists in Tibet, Bhutan, India and other Tibetan communities around the world. You are not just a spectator during the festival, the charming locals will ensure your heart is stolen by their natural bonhomie.

Tashi Delek!