Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with other officials of Central Tibetan Administration on the first day of Losar at Tsugla-khang
Photo: tibet.net
Tibetans across the world celebrated Losar (Tibetan New Year), the Fire-Bird year of 2144, from February 27 to March 1.
In Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, the Losar celebration started early in the morning following the traditional gathering of officials of the exile government headed by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay for a prayer session at Tsug la-khang, the main temple. Local Tibetans in and around Dharamashala visited the temple after the official gathering to offer and receive blessings.
Tibetan New Year is traditionally celebrated based on Tibetan calendar which is made up of twelve lunar months: the first day of the first month is considered to be Losar, or New Year.
Traditionally in Tibet, Losar celebrations go on for 15 days or more.
Prayer ceremony on Losar at Samyelling Tibetan Settlement, Delhi
Photo: tibet.net
However, Tibetans living in exile mostly celebrate Losar for the first three days and in some regions, for one day only, depending on their lifestyles.
The United States (US) State Department celebrated Losar with an event which was attended by over 70 dignitaries including State Department officials, Washington based Office of Tibet Representative Penpa Tsering, International Campaign for Tibet staff, executive members of the Tibetan Association. Ms. Laura Stone, Director of the Economic Policy Office at the Bureau of East Asian and Economic Affairs greeted the audience saying that the US State Department’s Losar celebration exhibits respect and recognition for Tibet’s rich culture and religion on the part of the US.
To mark the Losar festival, the Samyelling Tibetan Colony in Majnu Ka Tilla, Delhi gathered on March 1, the third day of the Losar. The programme started off with prayer offerings and singing the Tibetan and Indian national anthems. The gathering was presided over by both Indian dignitaries and Tibetan officials.
To show their spirit of unity and support, Russian Buddhist Republics gathered in Moscow to celebrate the Tibetan New Year. Over seven hundred people attended the event where the key speaker was Telo Tulku Rinpoche – His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s honorary representative in Russia, Mongolia and Commonwealth of Independent States countries. Rinpoche gave an extensive explanation of the spiritual side of Losar.
Losar Celebration in Germany
Photo: tibet.net
In Belgium, Tibetans celebrated the first day of Losar in Antwerp at an event organised by the Tibetan community there with much fun and frolic. According to the official website of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, Antwerp has the largest Tibetan population in Belgium, thus most of the Tibetan community activities take place there.
Also reported is the Losar celebration in America of the New York-based Tibet Fund, a non-profit organisation working to preserve the culture, religion and national identity of Tibetan people. The Tibet Fund celebrated Losar at Baruch College in New York City on February 21. Mr Penpa Tsering, the representative of the Office of Tibet based in Washington was the chief guest along with sponsors and longtime supporters of the Tibet cause.
Tibetan settlement in Delhi
Photo: tibet.net
Speaking about the purpose of such event, the Executive Director of the Tibet Fund told Voice of America’s Tibetan service, “…there are many in the United States who are interested in the Tibet cause, Tibetan culture and religion, yet the opportunities to directly participate in cultural events are rare for them. This led to our decision to initiate the annual celebration of Tibetan New Year three years ago.”
Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet celebrate Losar with prayers and parties to welcome the new Tibetan calendar year.
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