Tibetan people call the Tibetan New Year “Losar”. Losar is not one word in the Tibetan language. Actually, it consists of two Tibetan words - “Lo” means year, and “Sar” means new. Losar is calculated based on the Tibetan calendar. It starts from the 1st of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and lasts for fifteen days. In 2026, Losar falls on February 18.
Losar is the most important traditional festival of the year, and it is also the first Tibetan festival. At that time, each Tibetan family would reunite to hold a variety of activities to celebrate the arrival of the New Year, which is very lively. As the local people believe in
Tibetan Buddhism, many customs of Tibetan Losar are related to Tibetan Buddhism and the festival is permeated with a strong religious atmosphere.
During the Losar festival, Tibetans dress up formally.
Losar is usually held during February and March when Tibet is closed to foreigners. Thus, international travelers have little chance to see such a big feast in person. However, you could learn it from this post and imagine the alive scene.
Chinese name: 藏历年
Tibetan name: Losar
Time: January 1 to 15 in the Tibetan calendar
Area: Lhasa, Tibet
Origin: Offer sacrifices
Meaning: Pray for a good harvest in the coming year
When is Losar Celebrated?
All the Tibetan festivals are based on the Tibetan calendar, so is the Losar. This festival starts from the middle of December in the Tibetan calendar to the 15th day of the first lunar month. The preparatory period is the preparation process. From the first day of the first lunar month to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the festival period.
Religious celebration for Losar.
And it’s almost as same as the Chinese New Year, in mid-February of the solar calendar. The Tibetan calendar counts on 12 or 13 lunar months. So the Tibetan Losar might coincide with the Chinese New Year, one day apart, or one month apart, etc.
Historical Origin of Losar
Dated back to the old times, when there was no Tibetan Buddhism yet, Tibet was controlled by its original religion Bon. The ancient people had a big celebration in winter. They prayed for protection from deities. As time passed, this event was absorbed by Tibetan Buddhism and became an annual festival. In the 13th century, during the reign of the Sakya Dynasty, January 1st was set as the
beginning of the new year, which means the King’s New Year. From then on, Losar has officially become an important traditional festival in Tibet and continues to this day.
Folk Activities of Losar
Expressing their emotions by singing and dancing.
Like all the celebrations for a new year in the world, the Losar Festival is also a happy time with family together to bid farewell to the old year and usher in the new. Besides, as a minority nationality, nearly every single Tibetan is a good singer or dancer. Following their own nature, Tibetan people get used to expressing their emotions by singing and dancing. So, if you happen to travel to Tibet during this time, your ear will be fed with festive music all around.
The biggest difference between the Losar and the Chinese New Year is the continuous chanting as Tibet is a religious place where almost all people have faith in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan people believe that evil demons exist everywhere. So, at the Losar Festival, there is a very important activity for dislodging evil. They dress up in their folk costumes, chant Buddhist scripture and pass fire torches on the street. Expel the evil while praying for good luck and blessings for the coming new year.
Besides the above activities, there is another interesting one, the antimasque. For example, the deer dance, or the funny fight between the king and his subordinates, can make people laugh out loud.
In one word, the Losar Festival is a celebration full of music, dance, and joy.
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