Losar

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Losar (ལོ་གསར་) is the Tibetan word for "new year." Lo means year and sar means new. Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet.

Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called changkol is made from chhaang (Tibetan rice wine, similar to Japanese sake). The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyalpo losar). Losar is traditionally preceded by the five day practice of Vajrakilaya.

Losar is also referred to as the Bhutanese New Year. In Nepal it is referred to as either Losar or Lhochaar.

1 History
2 Practice
3 Dates
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

The celebration of Losar predates Buddhism in Tibet.

[edit] Practice

Losar rituals include painting houses, wearing new clothes, and resolving quarrels and debts.

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[edit] Dates

The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar. Losar is celebrated on the first through third days of the first lunar month.

Gregorian year	Tibetan year	Losar*	element and animal
2000	2126	February 5 - February 7	male iron dragon
2001	2127	January 24 - January 26	female iron snake (or metal serpent)
2002	2128	February 12 - February 14	male water horse
2003	2129	February 1 - February 3	female water sheep (or goat)
2004	2130	January 22 - January 24	male wood monkey
2005	2131	February 9 - February 11*	female wood bird (or rooster)
2006	2132	January 30 - February 1	male fire dog
2007	2133	February 18 - February 20	female fire pig
2008	2134	February 8 - February 10	male earth rat
2009	2135	January 27 - January 29	female earth ox

* Note: The start date of Losar depends on what time zone one is in. For example, in 2005, Losar started on February 8 in U.S. time zones and February 9 in Asia time zones. Some people began celebrating Losar on February 9 in the US.