Losar Mela, Uttarkashi

According to the Buddhist panchang, the advent of the New Year is celebrated every year during the Phalgun month, Shukla Pratipada. In the Tibetan language 'Lo' means New and 'Sar' means year. People of the Jad Bhotia community who follow the Buddhist traditions celebrate this New Year and the Losar Mela every year for 3 days.(*The exact dates of the festival depend upon the Hindu Calendar). The Jad Bhotia community was displaced from the Nelang &Jadung villages and are settled in Harshil, Bagori & Dunda, situated near the Indo-China border. On day one, Diwali is celebrated by lighting torches made of pine peels. On day two, farm & poultry animals going around Mount Kailash are made from flour and rice chhaang is offered along with prayers for good agriculture and animal husbandry yields.On day three, joy & fortune are wished for by playing Holi with flour. During the three day festivities people take down the old flags in their homes and replace them with new ones, which have mantras written in Pali language.The Goddess Ringali Devi is worshipped by the community as part of the festival rituals. Women wear their traditional attire consisting of kolak (a long loose shirt/ coat which is green in colour) and perform traditional dances Raso and Tadi at the festival.  * The exact dates of the festival depend upon the Hindu Calendar.