Losar

Losar (Tib. ལོ་གསར་, Wyl. lo gsar) — the Tibetan New Year. It is celebrated on the first day of the first Tibetan month (Bumjur Dawa) of its lunisolar calendar. Hence, although the date in the Gregorian calendar changes every year, it falls in February or March. For Tibetans, age calculation begins with '1' at their day of birth, and increases by one year on Losar—a 'birthday' of sorts which is shared by all Tibetans. In Tibetan, "lo" means year and "sar" is an abbreviation of "sar po" which means new.

During the first fifteen days of the year, the Tibetan tradition celebrates the fifteen days on which, in order to increase the merit and the devotion of future disciples, Buddha displayed a different miracle. Chotrul Düchen, the 'Festival of Miracles' coincides with the full moon (the fifteenth day) of the first Tibetan month.

The whole Losar period is traditionally a very important time for practice. During the days leading up to Losar emphasis is put on practices that purify negativity, remove inauspiousness and avert obstacles. During the days after Losar, practices are done in order to create auspicious circumstances for the coming year.

Losar predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and has its roots in a winter sang burning custom of the Bön religion. During the reign of the ninth Tibetan king, Pude Gungyal (317-398), it is said that this custom merged with a harvest festival to form the annual Losar festival.