Tamu Losar Festival

• Recently, Tamu Losar Festival has been celebrated in Nepal.
• It is celebrated by the Gurung community.
• The members of this community celebrate it by organizing cultural programs.
• This festival is celebrated with great pomp in the Gurung populated districts.
• These include Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski and Parvat.
• This is the New Year for the Gurung community of the upper hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal.
• The Gurung community has organized a special program in Tundikhel, Kathmandu.
• During this festival, Gurung women wear traditional jewellery on their heads, velvet blouses, a traditional shawl called Ghalek, a traditional belly-tying cloth called Patuki and a sari.
• Gurung men wear a sleeveless vest called Bhoto, a white shirt-like garment called Bhangra and a type of lehenga called Kachhad.
• They perform a vibrant cultural dance.
• This festival is celebrated in the Nepali month of Push (December-January).
• At this time the night is the longest night of the year and then, the duration of the night gradually becomes shorter.

About Gurung Community:

• It is an ethnic group found in Nepal and India.
• In Nepal, these people mainly live in Gandaki province.
• This community is known for its rich culture, traditions and deep attachment to natural beauty.

Characteristics of Gurung Community-

• Native Habitat: Himalayan region of Nepal, especially Gandaki province.
• Occupation: Agriculture, animal husbandry, trade and service in the army.
• Culture: Rich cultural heritage, traditional dance, music and festivals.
• Religion: A mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism and Bon religion.
• Languages: Gurung language (Tamu language), Nepali and other local languages.