Losoong Festival

See also: Indian New Year's days

Losoong marks the end of harvest season,^[1] of the Bhutia tribe, celebrated every year in December.

Losoong
A new year festival at Lachung monastery in North Sikkim
Official name	Losoong
Also called	Sonam Losoong, Namsoong
Observed by	Bhutias, Lepchas
Significance	Sikkimese New Year Lepcha New Year
Date	1st day of the 11th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Frequency	Annual

Tradition

Based on the Tibetan Lunar Calendar

• Losoong falls on the 1st day of the 11th month, when farmers celebrate the harvest.^[2]
• It is a traditional festival of the Bhutias. It is a time when the farmers rejoice and celebrate their harvest. The Lepchas also celebrate it and call it Namsoong. It is celebrated by inviting friends and family with traditional gaity and celebrations.^[3]
• The festival have been adapted from the traditions and rituals of the Tibetan New Year, Losar.
• The festival is preceded by masked dance at the Phodong and Rumtek Monasteries in Sikkim.^[4]

Losoong is celebrated not only in India but also in Nepal and Bhutan.

The dance forms performed in the festival depict narrativized tales from the life of Padmasambhava (or Guru Ugyen).^[5]

Celebration

Celebration begins after the priest offers 'Chi-Fut', special alcohol, to the gods. After the offering to gods the effigy of the demon King is burnt. Burning the demon represents destroying the evil.

Certain competitions are organized and merrymaking lasts for several days. The festival is also called Sonam Losoong. Losoong festival is very famous in eastern India.