Today people are happily celebrating Tamu Lhosar, which’s the New Year festival of the Gurung community also known as the Tamu Lhosar in Nepal and in other places where Gurung people live. Tamu Lhosar is based on an old calendar and the way the Gurung people see the world and it is a time when people come together to pray and celebrate the start of a new year with their families and friends and they also perform traditional dances and music and they remind themselves of how important their community is to them.
This year the celebration of Tamu Lhosar is more special and exciting because there is going to be a big Gurung cultural rally at Tudikhel in Kathmandu and people are coming from all over Nepal and, from other countries where Gurung people live to join in the celebration of Tamu Lhosar.
A Festival of Identity and Renewal
Tamu Lhosar is more than a New Year party. It is a way for people to show who they are and where they come from. The festival is on Poush 15 which’s December 30. It means a start and people are thankful for the past year. They also hope for peace and good things to happen in the coming year.
This year people are saying goodbye to the Serpent year and welcome to the Horse year. There are 12 zodiac signs (Lho), including the snake and the horse. A person’s age is determined by looking at these Lho.
Each Tamu Lhosar has an animal that represents the year. This is because the Tamu community thinks of time in a way. They believe it goes in cycles. During Tamu Lhosar families get together. Do special things. Older people share what they know. Younger people learn about their community. They learn about the values and stories that have been around, for a long time.
Celebrations Across Nepal
From the hills of Gandaki Province to urban centers such as Pokhara and Kathmandu, homes and community halls resonate with traditional music, folk dances, and the warmth of shared meals. Special dishes are prepared, prayers are offered for health and success, and people exchange greetings that reinforce a deep sense of belonging.
Temples and community spaces become vibrant gathering points, reflecting the festival’s spiritual and social significance.
Gurung community in Tudikhel
Mass Celebration at Tudikhel, Kathmandu
This year Tudikhel is the place where people go to celebrate because the Gurung cultural rally brings thousands of people together to show how united and proud they are. People wear clothes like kachhad, bhanga and gunyo choli. Men and women and young people walk in processions that’re very colorful. They show everyone the Gurung language and music and dance and the things that are important to them.
The rally has music and people performing folk songs and dances. There are also things that represent the history and values of the Gurung people. The Tudikhel rally is not just for the people who live in that community. It is also a way to share the Gurung culture with the rest of Nepal.
Nepal is a country with different cultures. Festivals like Tamu Lhosar show that when people celebrate their differences it makes the country stronger and people respect each other more. The Gurung cultural rally and festivals, like Tamu Lhosar are important because they bring people together and remind them of the Gurung culture and heritage.
Celebration in the Diaspora
Beyond Nepal’s borders, Gurung communities in the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and across Europe are also celebrating Tamu Lhosar with equal enthusiasm. Cultural programs, community feasts, and gatherings organized by Gurung associations abroad help maintain strong connections to home.
For many living overseas, Lhosar becomes a meaningful moment to reconnect with their roots, pass traditions on to children born abroad, and preserve a shared cultural identity despite geographical distance.
These global celebrations also reflect the evolving nature of Tamu Lhosar. While firmly grounded in tradition, the festival has embraced modern platforms. Digital media and social networks now allow people across continents to share greetings, performances, and messages of goodwill, ensuring the festival remains relevant to younger generations.
Preserving Heritage for the Future
At its core, Tamu Lhosar carries a message of tolerance, harmony, and collective responsibility. Elders often emphasize the importance of preserving language, rituals, and customs at a time when globalization and urbanization challenge indigenous cultures.
Cultural rallies, open dances, and community programs play a vital role in keeping these traditions alive—not as museum artifacts, but as vibrant, living practices.
A Message Beyond Celebration
As the Gurung cultural rally happens at Tudikhel today it reminds us that festivals are not just fun times but help keep our culture alive and bring people together.
The Gurung cultural rally creates a space where the past meets the present. The Gurung community and others both at home and abroad come together for a goal.
On this day of Tamu Lhosar, the idea of new beginnings is not just for the Gurung people. It sends a message of peace, unity and respect to everyone.
As the New Year starts the celebrations show a shared wish. We hope that our different cultures keep thriving. We also hope that the connections between people stay strong no matter where they are, in the world.