KATHMANDU, Feb 24: The Sherpa community across the country is celebrating 2147th Gyalpo Lhosar today with various programs. The festival celebrated by the community as their new year falls on Shukla Pratipada in the Nepali month of Falgun.
On the occasion, people of the Sherpa community clean up houses and villages, cook and eat various delicacies, organises various cultural programs and exchanges best wishes with each other.
Gyalpo Lhosar being observed today
The festival that is divided into 12 years, mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig is observed for almost two weeks. Today (Sunday) is marked as the pig year, and a mouse year will start from tomorrow (Monday), said Tika Sherpa, who is researching on the Sherpa culture. Observed in 12 mountainous districts previously, the celebration has now extended to 22 districts.
President offers greetings on Gyalpo Lhosar
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended her best wishes of happiness, prosperity and peace to Sherpas and the community following Mahayana Buddhism on the occasion of Gyalpo Lhosar.
Saying that Gyalpo Lhosar is an integral part of Nepal's culture, she, in a message of greetings today expressed her hope that such festivals would increase tolerance, mutual harmony and cooperation among Nepalis embracing various cultures, and strengthen national unity.
