LOSSAR
Also Known As: The Tibetan New Year
Month: Mid-November to First week of December
This festival is celebrated for the welcome of the winter
season. The local deity is worshipped with the hope that the winter would
be happy and prosperous for the local people.
The Festivity
Ritual dances and an unbelievably rich imagery mark Lossar. This is
celebrated in Buddhist areas throughout the state-while Lahaul's
monasteries have some of the most spectacular performances.
On its eve, the stylised 'Chhaam' dance and elaborate costumes and masks,
commemorate the assassination of the cruel Tibetan king, 'Langdarma' in
the 9th century. Often-though wrongly-called the devil dance, it
symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
It is celebrated on 25th of eleventh month of local calendar, which is
from mid November to first week of December.
