Sonam Lochaar

Sonam Lochhar is celebrated as the New Year of the Tamang Community of Sikkim. The first day of new moon in the month of Magh (when Lord Buddha is believed to have born) counts as the greatest day of significance for Tamangs and that is the reason, this day marks the beginning of the Sonam Lochhar festival. Besides Sikkim, the festival is also celebrated at a grand level in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet where the people from Tamang community reside in great numbers. Sonam Lochhar commences during Magha (beginning of the spring season), which happens to fall somewhere in the month of January-February. The celebrations begin with cleaning and decoration of the households and continue for almost two weeks with people flocking to monasteries to offer their prayers. This is the time when friends and families also gather together for festive meals and dinners; music and dance too is an inseparable part of this beautiful festival, which truly provides for a memorable and fun time to all those taking part in the celebrations. People also visit their relatives to seek blessings from the elders of the family. People wear colourful traditional Tamang outfits to mark the importance of the day in their lives. The festival also sees Tamangs display their cultural heritage by engaging in traditional music and dance performances. Tamang Selo, a special group dance of the community, is performed with great enthusiasm. Many of the dances are performed to the beat of the damphu, a traditional Tamang drum. The stupas, monasteries, houses rooftop and mountain top are festooned with colourful prayer flags and decorative items intended to bring peace and harmony.