Ceremonial dance during Himalayan Losar. Photo credit: Unknown

The 1st day of the 12th lunar month is celebrated as New Year’s Day according to the custom of the ancient land of Zhang Zhung that included a vast geographical area including Tibet, parts of Nepal, and the area previously known as Persia. In 2022, this date coincides with February 2nd on the Western calendar.

This New Year’s Day, Losar in the Tibetan language, is also known as Sonam Losar, Himalayan Losar, or Peasants Losar. It continues to be widely celebrated in Dolpo, Nepal as well as in select other regions of Tibet. Originally, it was celebrated as the beginning of the New Year throughout all of Tibet. However, due to political and social changes through time, the commonly celebrated date for the New Year became the 1st day of the 1st lunar month. This is the Royal New Year and in 2022 this date coincides with March 3rd.

For those celebrating today as New Year’s Day it is the beginning of the Year of the Water Tiger.

The 1st king of the ancient land of Zhang Zhung, King Triwer Lajé.

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