Losar
February 5, 2019
Losar predates the arrival of Buddhism in Tibet and has its roots in a winter incense-burning custom of the Bön religion. This is one of the most important celebrations of the Tibetan people. Their families come home together for well wishes and prayer. They pray for the wellbeing of their family and to pay respect to their elder family members. They share their happiness with wishes for the first day of their new year.
Losar is the Tibetan new year, and during this time, they did not drink champagne to celebrate. Instead, they went to the local spring to perform a ritual of gratitude. The Tibetan community members made offerings to the nagas, the water spirits who activated the water element in the area. They made smoke offerings to please the local spirits in their natural world, collect the first fresh water of the new year to make tea. Then they offer the tea first to the three jewels, Rinpoches and their elders and parents.
Losar lasts for 15 days, with the main celebrations taking place in the first 3 days.
Families prepare for Losar days in advance by thoroughly cleaning their homes, decorating with fragrant flowers and use flour to paint on the walls or ground auspicious signs such as the sun, moon or a reversed swastika. Cedar, rhododendron and juniper branches are prepared to burn as incense. Debts are settled, quarrels are resolved, new clothes are acquired and special foods such as kapse are made.
This year, our teacher, Latri Nyima Dakpa Rinpoche will be at Yeru Bön Center, and together with the Tibetan Bön Community in Minneapolis, we will celebrate Losar!
We invite you to join us at the center or via live stream as we celebrate Losar.
Fee: $0.00 Be our guest!
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