The Losar festival is associated or connected with the tribes of Monpas and Sherdukpens and it is accounted as the new year festival by the people following the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. Losar festival is celebrated continuously for seven days annually amidst great enthusiasm and with pomp and gaiety by the Monpas and Sherdukpens. Generally, the Losar is celebrated during the last part January and in the first part of February.
about LOSAR :
The Losar festival being with the performance of Tongchin worship in the village monasteries (Gompas). According to the existing belief, after Tongchin, this two tribes performs Marme worship to have a good and beautiful life in the next birth. Next, they performs worships known as Singhe and Seje which are performed for the welfare of the entire village communities, which is followed by worship of Sojan meant to get together after death. Lastly, they perform worship like Sechang, Semar and Dadar for longetivity.
These various kinds of worships are performed on different days by the Buddhist priest (Lamas) where different holy scriptures are read. With other obligations, the local distilled drink is a must for the Monpas and Sherdukpens. People rise early, takes bath, put on new cloths and prepare food and drink for themselves as well as for the guest on the first day of the festival. Then, they starts visiting their neighbours houses and the visitors are entertained with great hospitality by feeding them with food and drink.
However, on the last day of the Losar festival, right from dawn to dusk, the priest (Lamas) have to remain busy and active both at the monastery and at the village for various functions. On that very day , the Lamas are invited to every house in the village in the wee hours of the morning to usher a very happy and prosperous new year to the respective family members of the house. When this function is over. All the villages go to the to after prayers, by touching the image the image of lord Buddha (Sange- Somdonde) to receive blessings from him. Next, all the villagers gathers in a particular place, which is far away from the village and enjoy a feast there. The young men and women of the village take active part in songs and dances and enjoy by sprinkling water on each other. After this, they returned back to their respective house, where they feed their domestic animals and pets. In the family, the young ones take the blessings from the elderly people by prospering before them.
Conclusion :
In this way, the Monpas and Sherdukpens celebrated their most popular Losar festival with great joy, gaiety and devotion. There by forgetting all their hardships and difficulties of the past.
In addition to this, on the occasion of the Losar festival, a variety of pantomime dances such as Yak dance, Ajilamu dance, deer dance are performed by various dancers and artists at the respective village monasteries (Gompa).
