KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 18 Gyalpo Lhosar, the New Year festival of the Sherpa community, is being observed across Nepal today with cultural programmes, religious rituals and the exchange of greetings, as national leaders extended their best wishes on the occasion. The festival, rooted in the Mahayana Buddhist lunar calendar, marks the beginning of a new year on the first day of the bright fortnight of Falgun. Celebrated primarily by Sherpas living in Nepal's Himalayan region, Gyalpo Lhosar carries deep cultural and spiritual significance. Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav said the observance of Gyalpo Lhosar 2153 strengthens religious reverence, social harmony, cultural heritage and national unity. In a message issued today, he expressed the hope that the festival would inspire all to contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity. He noted that while traditionally celebrated by the Sherpa community, the festival has increasingly become part of Nepal's broader social fabric. Similarly, Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Bimala Ghimire extended greetings to Nepalis at home and abroad. She said Nepal's multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural diversity is its defining identity, and that such festivals reinforce unity, fraternity and mutual respect. She also highlighted constitutional recognition of cultural diversity. Traditionally, the festival involves cleaning village paths and water sources, visiting monasteries for blessings from lamas, and preparing special dishes such as Guthuk, a soup made from nine varieties of grains, and Khapse. Cultural performances, including Syabru dance and music played on the Tungna (Damyan), add vibrancy to the celebrations. Beyond its religious observance, Gyalpo Lhosar is viewed as an occasion to strengthen family bonds, renew friendships and foster community harmony. The sharing of traditional cuisine and participation in communal events symbolise hope, renewal and collective solidarity in the New Year.