Losar
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
The Buddhist New Year of the Himalaya. In Ladakh it is celebrated in the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar (December–January), earlier than elsewhere; Buddhist communities of Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh also mark Losar.
New YearNorthern India
| Where | Ladakh; Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh); Sikkim; Arunachal Pradesh |
|---|---|
| When | Ladakh: 11th Tibetan month (December–January); elsewhere usually February–March |
| Calendar | Tibetan lunisolar |
What people do
- Monasteries hold prayers and masked dances; homes are cleaned and lamps lit.
- Offerings to the deities and to ancestors; visits to relatives.
Significance
Drives out the old year's misfortunes and welcomes the new.