Sonam Lhosar celebrated with fanfare in Dharan, Dhankuta

By Our Correspondents,Dharan/Dhankuta Jan. 31: Sonam Lhosar 2861, the new year celebrated by the Tamang and Hyolmo people of Nepal, was celebrated with much fanfare in Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City and Hile of Dhankuta with cultural parades and rallies.

The Tamang Ghedung Municipal Committee of Dharan organised a cultural rally that started from the monasteries of Dharan and passed through Bhanu Chowk, Chhata Chowk, Singha Devi Chowk, Purano Bazaar, and Desi Line before returning to Bhanu Chowk on Thursday. 

The chief guest of the event, Harka Raj Rai, Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, emphasised the importance of preserving the traditions and cultures of all ethnic groups.

 He said that it takes thousands of years to build a culture and that all communities should respect and protect their heritage. He also highlighted that ethnicity defines a nation and that Sonam Lhosar is a national festival that should be celebrated by all.

According to the Nepal Tamang Ghedung Dharan Sub-Metropolitan Committee, the Sonam Lhosar festival will be celebrated for 15 days starting from Nepali calendar Magh 17 with various programmes.

 In previous years, Sonam Lhosar was celebrated as a cultural tourism festival, said Lalit Bahadur Tamang, Secretary of the Nepal Tamang Ghedung Committee.

However, this year, due to the Dharan Day celebration and the Sunsari Chamber of Commerce and Industry Expo, the cultural festival for Lhosar could not be organised, said Vice President Samphar Tamang. 

The Government of Nepal officially recognised Sonam Lhosar as a national festival in 2061 BS and declared it to be celebrated annually on the Magh Shukla Pratipada.

The event featured Tamang Selo dance performances from all 20 wards of Dharan. Sonam Lhosar is not only celebrated in Nepal but also countries such as India, China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Bhutan on the same lunar date.

Meanwhile, Sonam Lhosar was also marked in Hile, Dhankuta, with various cultural programmes organised by the Nepal Tamang Ghedung District Coordination Committee.

 Locals from the Tamang community enthusiastically participated in the festival.

The event featured Tamang Selo dance performances, a Dhol parade, and various cultural programmes showcasing Tamang culture.

 Speaking at the festival, speakers emphasised the importance of celebrating such traditions to preserve ethnic culture.