Nepal Tamang Ghedung Qatar celebrated the Lhochhar festival, marking their New Year, on January 17, at Asian Town Cricket Stadium Recreation Hall. More than 600 Tamangs attended with their traditional attires. Dr Narad Nath Bharadwaj, Ambassador of Nepal, was the chief guest of the event. Gyan Man Tamang, Vice-President of Nepal Tamang Ghedung, along with other notable personalities from the Nepali community and Nepali businessmen attended the event.
Performances by artists Phulkumar Bamjan Tamang, Shubha Ghalan Tamang and Purnima Lama Tamang from Nepal was another attraction of the celebration. They performed their famous Tamang Selo and Nepali songs.
Delivering a speech, the Ambassador said: “Tamang is fifth largest indigenous community of Nepal with a population 1.7 million. They have own culture and tradition. They made notable contribution to develop the country. According to history of Nepal, many Tamang leaders were directly involved to change Nepali political circumstances”.
He added that, “Tamang Selo is the beauty of their culture which attracts Tourism in Nepal. I am happy to be a part of Lhochhar Festival Celebration and thanks to Tamang community in Qatar for organising such an event which will support to promote Visit Nepal 2020.”
He added that the community leaders and members should respect and follow the rules and regulations of Qatar while organising any community events.
Tamangs are one of the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal. They have their own distinct culture, language and religion. They follow a lunar calendar, along with the Buddhist and Bon people in the Himalayan regions of northern Nepal.
They mark Sonam Losar as their New Year, whereas many, including Sherpas and Bhotes, mark Gyalbo Losar. The festival has Tibetan and Chinese origins.
Lhochhar is a combination of two words (Lho+Chhar) in Tamang Literature ie Lho stand as Year and Chhar stand as New which we generally use in English as New Year .
The Tamang have a unique tradition of marking each year with distinct creatures, from a list of 12 which are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog and Boar. This year the Tamang are celebrating the year of rat which starts from January 25.
Binesh Tamang, Chief Advisor of the Tamang Ghedung Qatar, said the last 15 days of the year is a time to clean and prepare a welcoming atmosphere for the New Year. The monasteries perform a special ritual, mask dance, to expel negative forces. People go to monasteries, stupas and chaityas and perform ceremonial rituals there.
