Losar Festival: Ladakhi New Year being celebrated

Union Territory of Ladakh is celebrating Losar Festival on 27 December 2019, to mark the Ladakhi or Tibetan New Year. Until 2018, Losar gathering use to have ‘UT Status for Ladakh’ as a resolution for New Year. This year, it will be joyous Losar festival celebrations in newly born Union Territory Ladakh. Losar festival, which has its origin in 15th century, is also observed in all Himalayan states of country but in different times.

About Losar Festival

People of various parts of Ladakh region, annually celebrate Losar Festival on 1st Day of Eleventh Month of Tibetan Calendar correlating to a date in Gregorian calendar. The celebrations continue for 3-9 days in different parts of Ladakh.

The festival is regarded as the most important socio-religious event of Ladakh.  It is also one of the major attractions for tourists in winter season, as the festival coupled with several ritual performances and traditional events.

Losar Festival Celebrations: It includes making symbolic meals and offerings to God and Goddess. The houses are decorated with good luck signs for prosperous New Year and bounty of crops. People keep Dough Models of Sun, Moon, Goats, Sheep,Ibex and Antelope in kitchen shelves for good omen. To mark the beginning of New Year, prayer flags will be hoisted at important religious places in the UT.

Ladakh Buddhist Association in collaboration with Union Territory Administration is also organizing a grand celebration at Chokanga Vihara in Leh, which will be attended by Lieutenant Governor R K Mathur as chief guest.