Losar Festival in Himachal Pradesh

Losar festival is the New Year festival of Tibetans, celebrated mainly in the Lahaul district of Himachal Pradesh in India. This festival mark the beginning of the winter season. It is celebrated according to first month of Tibetan calendar, which usually held around mid-November to first week of December. During the Lossar festival, the local deity is worshiped. Ritual dances is the main festivities and celebrations. It is said that the festival originated in the pre-Buddhist period in Tibet, when Bon was the religion of the country.

It was first celebrated in the Lhokha region of Tibet. During that time, it was known as the Agrarian Festival. Losar festival continue for ten days in a traditional Tibetan family. The first day of the festival is known as 'Lama Losar' which is also called the 'Festival of the Guru and His Holiness The Dalai Lama', the head of the Tibetans. He is worshiped on this day and big really are taken out in his honor.

At the time of this Festival, Buddhist temples and monasteries in Lahaul are decorated by colorful flags and the 'Chham Dance' held here. It presents the story of how the cruel Tibetan king, known as Langdarma, was killed in the 9th century, leading to the victory of good over evil. The masks used in this dance which is called 'Devil Dance'.