Losar: Himalayas Welcome Lunar New Year with Ancient Traditions

• Losar, the Lunar New Year, is celebrated by Himalayan Buddhist communities in India, including Ladakh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh.
• Preparations begin days before, involving rituals to symbolically drive out negativity, such as shaping flour balls to embody misfortune.
• Guthuk, a special noodle soup with hidden objects (kauri) like coal or chili, is eaten, with each object reflecting a trait for the year ahead.
• The Gutor period focuses on cleaning homes, settling tasks, and refreshing altars with new prayer flags and offerings like Khapse.
• The first three days are most significant, involving family blessings, monastery visits, and sharing traditional dishes like Khapse and Pheja with relatives and neighbors.