Lhochhar Festival - Gurung Cultural Festival

Tamu Lhochhar is one of the biggest Nepali-Buddhist traditional festivals celebrated majorly by the Gurung Community. It marks the beginning of the Gurung New Year which falls on the 15th day of Push in Nepali Calender and last week on December in English Calendar. Gurung peoples also represent the years with a cycle of 12 years representing various creatures (garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat). The festival is celebrated by all family members and friends gathering together to exchange greetings and well wishes.

A special programme is organise at major city across the nepal to observe the festival where locals and tourists come together to be part of festivities dotted with an array of cultural programs, traditional food stalls and on-the-spot competitions. For travellers and cultural enthusiasts, Tamu Lochhar makes for one the best times to plan their trip to Nepal and experience an unmatched hospitality of the Gurungs. Gurungs attired in their traditional dresses celebrated the festival with fanfare.

Tamu Lhochhar marks the end of winters, ushering in the spring season. The history of this festival is believed to date back to pre-Buddhist era in Nepal. It is one of the major festivals of the country and is celebrated with great fervour and though it’s mainly a Gurung festival, all communities participate with equal zeal showcasing the communal and regional harmony of the country.

The dale for Tamu Lhochhar falls on the 15th day in the month of Poush as per Nepali Bikram Sambat Calendar. People from the Gurung community gather at a common ground and celebrate the occasion, singing, dancing and feasting on traditional Gurung food that typically includes ‘Sel Roti’ and ‘Achaar’.

The day of Tamu Lhochhar begins with the people of Gurung community thronging to monasteries and shrines to pray for a happy and prosperous new year. Afterwards, families and friends get-together to exchange greeting and to take blessings from the elders. As the day progresses, people get dressed in their traditional attires and visit the fairs that are decked up with all kinds of activities for entertainment including music, dance, joyrides for kids and various food stalls serving traditional Gurung cuisine. In the festival, the Gurung men wear Bhangra, a white apron and a Kachhad, a short. Gurung women, both children and adolescents, wear Ghalek, a velvet blouses and gold ornaments such as earrings and semi-precious stone necklaces. People in small and large groups feast during the festival and perform traditional dances. Home-made Raksi is served during the feast.