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| Kathmandu, Tuesday December 31, 2002 Paush 16, 2059. |
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Gurung
community celebrates Lhosar with enthusiasm
By Perina Pathak
KATHMANDU, Dec. 30 :
"Yashimala" "Yashimala," literally meaning ‘Happy New Year’
in the Gurung language, was reverberating in the premises of Birendra International
Convention Centre, here today.
In spite of the two-day
general strike in the Bagmati and Narayani zones, called by the Maoists, more than ten
thousand Gurungs of the valley participated in their great festival, Lhosar. Participants
of the function said that for enthusiastic people even the ‘bandh’ had no
effect.
"Elder people,
children and those without private vehicles were not able to come and celebrate the
festival with us," said Krishna Gurung, member of the Tamu Lhosar Main Organising
Committee, "Whereas compared to last year, there are more people this year," he
said.
With printouts reading
‘Lhosar celebration’, ‘Happy New Year’ and ‘Yashimala’
pasted on their vehicles and bicycles, the Gurungs were there to celebrate the important
festival of the year.
Prime Minister Lokendra
Bahadur Chand, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher JBR and
other leaders were also present on the occasion to wish New Year to the entire Gurung
community.
PM Chand and other
dignitaries also participated in the community dance, with the PM dancing for a minute
with a partner attired in traditional Gurung costume of cholo, ngewo (sari), ghalek and
kramu. Even the Gurung men cut a fine figure in their traditional dress of kerale, reng
and kachhad.
The Gurung community
today celebrated Lhosar, the coming of the year of the sheep – ‘Lhuklho’
while bidding farewell to ‘Taalho’ - year of the horse. Lhosar, which means New
Year, are of three types, Sonam Lhosar and Gyalbo Lhosar as observed according to Tibetan
lunar calendar are celebrated by the Tamang and the Sherpa community respectively. Whereas
Tamu Lhosar celebrated today is a festival of the Gurung community.
According to Prof.
Gajman Gurung, Tamu Lhosar falls on Poush 15 every year as per the lunar calendar.
"Today is the day of the year which has the shortest day and longest night. From
today, the days become longer and the nights shorter," he said.
From today, the Lo
(horoscope) changes from horse to sheep. According to Sino-Tibetan astrological system,
there are twelve Lo’s (mouse, bull/cow, tiger, rabbit/cat, dragon/divine, eagle,
serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, hen, dog, pig) with one whole year being represented by the
same Lo. The astrological name of this year is sheep, which comes once after every twelve
years.
The Gurung community
today celebrated the Tamu Lhosar, eating delicacies, mostly the bara (made out of black
lintel), wearing new clothes and visiting friends and relatives to receive blessings from
family elders.
At the function today,
people young and old participated in mass prayers with enthusiasm. Various Gurung
organisations participated in Jhaki (procession) and children from different schools
performed traditional dances.
Addressing the
gathering, PM Chand said that the country is known for its multi-cultural and
multi-lingual society. "So, this gathering in the time of bandh and violence shows
the co-operation and harmony among the communities," he said.
RPP president Pashupati
Shumsher JBR said that it would be better if the recent National Assembly could be
converted into the Communal Assembly.
Similarly, Ishwor
Pokhrel, Member of the Standing Committee of CPN (UML) accused that the Lhosar holiday
declared by the government a year back has not been implemented yet.
Also PM Chand released
a book Nepalma Prachalit Yen Kanun Ra Yasako Byabaharik Prayog. Written by Bhabiswar
Gurung the book includes provisions relating to the ethnic communities in the
governing-laws and constitution.
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