Losar
Tibetan New Year in Dharamshala & Tawang
Significance
The most important festival in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. In Dharamshala, it is blessed by the Dalai Lama and observed by the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Monasteries across the Himalayas welcome the new year with Cham mask dances, butter-sculpture displays, and the Gutor ceremony where last year's demons are symbolically banished.
First-time visitor
Start at Namgyal Monastery on Day 1 for Cham, then walk the Kora path around it at dawn.
What to see
- Gutor — demon-expelling ritual
- Cham mask dances at Namgyal Monastery
- Butter-sculpture display
- Morning prostrations at sunrise
Festival foods
Best for
Travel tips
- 1Dharamshala is cold — pack for sub-zero nights
- 2Attend the public teaching (when scheduled) for blessings
- 3Respect photography restrictions during prayer sessions
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About Losar
Losar 2027 is scheduled for 8–10 Feb 2027. That's 290 days from today.
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