Losar 2149 – the Tibetan New Year 2022 falls on 3rd March this year. Tibetans follow lunar calendar and it is 127 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. Since this is the most important festival of the year for the Tibetans, they pay special visits to Buddhist monasteries, temples and holy sites where they pray and pledge to be a better person in the year ahead. It is also a good opportunity to greet with other Tibetans who visit the holy sites.
“Tashi Deleg” is the traditional Tibetan greeting and during the festival season, Tibetans greet each other “Losar La Tashi Deleg”.
Whilst young children are excited to wear their new dresses adults have many preparations to do for the festive season. Tibetans wear their best traditional attire (chubas).
In the UK, the small Tibetan Community are also getting ready for the festive season! Tibetan parents living in the London Royal Borough of Greenwich are organising a special Losar – Tibetan Cultural Event this year as an educational session for young children. This will take place at the Woolwich Centre Library on Saturday, 26th February from 2pm to 4pm.
Samten Chodon, a parent and a Senior Nurse, who works for the National Health Service (NHS), initiated this cultural event in the Royal Borough of Greenwich where she is a resident. This children-focus cultural event is open to all. Samten and her co-organisers hope that all attendees would benefit from this cultural event – learning more about the importance of Tibetan festival. Children and guests are invited to speak on the festive season. Everyone who attends the afternoon will also enjoy traditional Tibetan songs and dance by young children.
Losar is traditionally celebrated by Tibetans all over the world. About six million Tibetans in China’s occupied Tibet celebrate the Losar but they are banned from showing devotion to their Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who was forced into exile in India since March 1959. Tibetans are still persecuted in their homelands after Tibet was invaded by the Communist China. Of the 140,000 Tibetans living in exile, the UK is home to about 800 Tibetans where they can freely practise their beliefs.
Some important Tibetan Losar events taking place in the UK between 26th February and 5th March 2022:
Saturday, 26th February from 2pm to 4pm | Losar 2149: Tibetan Cultural Event |Venue: Woolwich Centre Library | Organisers: Samten Chodon et. al.
Thursday, 3rd March from 8 am to 11 am | Losar Prayer & Sangsol | Venue: Jamyang Buddhist Centre | Organiser: Tibetan Community UK
Organised by Tibetan Community UK
Thursday, 3rd March from 4pm | Tibetan Losar Party 2022 | Venue: Asian Community Centre | Organiser: Greenwich Tibetan Association (GTA)
Saturday, 5th March from 5pm to 1 am | TCB Losar Celebration | Venue: Old Town Hall, Stratford | Organiser: Tibetan Community UK
Organised by Tibetan Community UK
Enjoy Tibetan Losar Songs!
Global Alliance for Tibet & Persecuted Minorities 