Losoong is the Sikkimese New Year. It is also called 'Sonam Losar' or ‘The Farmer’s New Year’. It is celebrated every year in the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar. According to Western calendar, it falls in the month of December. It marks the end of the harvest season. It is a traditional way to thank God for the good harvest and pray for a better harvest next year. The festival is marked by the famous ‘Chaam Dance’, which signifies the victory of good over the evil. The festival continues for 15 days.
Traditions
People celebrate this day by performing a very famous Chaam dance. It is also known as the ‘Masked Dance’, which is performed at the Tsu-La-Khang Palace temple, in Phodong and in Rumtek. People dress up in colourful garments as divinities and perform the dance. The dance is a way to expel the evil spirit and welcome the new spirit in the coming year.
Apart from the Chaam Dance, another integral part of the Losoong festival is the ‘Chaang’, a variety of locally produced wine. The people of Sikkim consume this wine and get into the mood of celebrating the festival. Amidst all these, the archery contest also takes place. Various monastic dances can also be seen during the festival.
The festival is celebrated by the Lepchas and the Bhutias. People get up before dawn, take bath and wear new clothes. It is celebrated both by the young and the old.
Tourist Essential
There are no particular restrictions for the tourists. Anyone visiting the land during this period can observe the Losoong Festival. Tourists can visit Gompas and other domestic shrines and perform pujas. They can enjoy the traditional stage fight, archery contests, Chaam and Kagyed dances. Tourists from all over the world visit Sikkim to be a part of the Losoong festival.
