Tibetans all over the world will celebrate their new year today and a small town in south India is preparing to rock through the night.
Yesterday was to see the end of 2030, the year of the "Water Sheep," and today the start of 2031, the year of the "Wood Monkey."
PHOTO: AP
The otherwise lazy town of Bylakuppe, about 300km from the IT hub of Bangalore, has a sizeable Tibetan population who are planning a party with a fete, ritual dances at monasteries and a music concert organized by new Tibetan group, Gonpo Entertainment.
"We are looking forward to the concert," said an excited youth. "We don't see such events in our settlement. The evening will be full of music and fun."
Some renowned Tibetan musicians from India, Nepal, the US and Switzerland are due to perform at the concert.
"We will have a 10,000 watt sound system to blast the concert!" said one of the organizers.
Bylakuppe is home to Sera monastery, which was re-established in the Indian town after the Chinese destroyed the original in Tibet.
It has a population of around 10,000, some 3,000 of whom are monks at the monastery.
In Dharamsala, the northern hillstation where the Tibetan government in exile has set up its headquarters, Losar will be celebrated in prayer and in family reunions, officials said.
With exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama being on retreat, the prayer ceremony, Tsedor, on the first day of the Tibetan New Year, will be led by the chief abbot of Namgyal monastery in Dharamsala.
The Tibetan lunar calendar was adopted from the Chinese system during the reign of 7th century Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. The king's Chinese consort, Wengchen Kongjo, brought the Chinese calendar to Tibet.
The preparations begin on the 29th day of the 12th Tibetan month with ritual ceremonies to drive away evil spirits so that the New Year will begin with fresh positive energies.
On New Year's eve, the altars are decorated with offerings of edibles and religious relics. Food and drink stocks are piled well in advance.
During the holidays, which usually last one week, new clothes are made, houses and their surroundings are cleaned and walls are painted.
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