nPostednon March 2, 2014
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Todaynis the Tibetan New Year, a part of Tibetan Buddhism. I read that it is the most important holidaynin Tibet, Nepal, and the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Todaynis the Tibetan New Year, a part of Tibetan Buddhism. I read that it is the most important holidaynin Tibet, Nepal, and the Kingdom of Bhutan.n
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nTibetnis located on a high-altitude plain in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It isnnow ruled by the People’s Republic of China, but the Dalai Lama continues to be the spiritual leader and headsnthe government-in-exile. (The Dalai Lama fled Tibet inn1959 during the Tibetan Uprising and has since traveled the worldnadvocating for Tibetans and Tibet.)
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Bynthe way, speaking of the Dalai Lama, this is the first year that thenDalai Lama will be celebrating Losar in the U.S. – indeed, it’s thenfirst year since his exile that the Dalai Lama has celebratednLosar anywhere other than India. The Dalai Lama happens to be on anthree-week visit to the U.S. and will spend today in Minnesota! (Itnmight be a cold New Year’s!)
Bynthe way, speaking of the Dalai Lama, this is the first year that thenDalai Lama will be celebrating Losar in the U.S. – indeed, it’s thenfirst year since his exile that the Dalai Lama has celebratednLosar anywhere other than India. The Dalai Lama happens to be on anthree-week visit to the U.S. and will spend today in Minnesota! (Itnmight be a cold New Year’s!)n
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nHow do people celebrate Losar?
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Thenpast few days, the Buddhist monks have been preparing for Losar by makingnspecial noodles made of several different kinds of grain and driedncheese, and by cleaning and decorating the monasteries. Dough ballsnhave been passed out—and inside the dough balls people find things likenchilies, salt, rice, wool, or coal. I don’t know if people nibble thendough to find out what is inside or if they just pull apart thenball—but hopefully they don’t EAT the wool or coal! Whatever younget in your dough ball is supposed to be a comment on yourncharacter—and, even though it is supposed to be a fun tradition,ncoal in your dough ball is bad news!
Thenpast few days, the Buddhist monks have been preparing for Losar by makingnspecial noodles made of several different kinds of grain and driedncheese, and by cleaning and decorating the monasteries. Dough ballsnhave been passed out—and inside the dough balls people find things likenchilies, salt, rice, wool, or coal. I don’t know if people nibble thendough to find out what is inside or if they just pull apart thenball—but hopefully they don’t EAT the wool or coal! Whatever younget in your dough ball is supposed to be a comment on yourncharacter—and, even though it is supposed to be a fun tradition,ncoal in your dough ball is bad news!n
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nToday there will be rituals, offerings, entertainments, debates, all manner of celebrations. Atnleast that’s what happens in Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and maybe evennIndia. I don’t know what the celebrations in Minnesota will be like!
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- Learnnmore about Tibet here.
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- Herenis an activity related to Losar: making a Tibetan prayer flag.
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nTexasnIndependence Day
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Dr.nSeuss Day
Dr.nSeuss Dayn
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nPeasants’nDay in Myanmar
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nVasaloppet in Sweden
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nPlannahead:
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nPlannahead:
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nChecknout my Pinterest boards for:
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nn Marchn holidays
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