Tamu Lhochhar celebration begins

Kathmandu, December 28:

Various programmes were organised in different parts of the country to kick-start the festivities of Tola Lhochhar, the biggest Gurung festival.

The three-day festival that began today will continue until December 30, which is

the first day of the

waxing moon of the month of Poush, and the main celebration would be done then with much fanfare and religious activities.

In Kathmandu, various Gurung communities joined hands to celebrate the three-day Tola Lhochhar.

Duet folk song programme and sports activities were organised in Tundikhel today to mark the festival, according to Buddha Gurung, an organiser.

Interactions and a number of cultural

activities will be conducted on the second day of the festival and religious rituals, masked procession and feasts would be organised on the final day, Gurung said.

Lhochhar is the celebration of New Year of Gurung calendar, according to which

the year of ‘rat’ will begin after two days bringing to an end the year of the ‘pig’.

Gurung, Tamang and Sherpa communities all belong to the same Tibetan Mahayan sect and basically follow the same Manjushree calendar but celebrate new year on separate dates, experts say.