Sonam Lhochhar/ShreeBallabh Jayanti

Welcome to the year of Rabbit, best wishes of the 2023 A.D.
Losar (Lo - year, sar - new) is a national holiday of tibetan buddhism celebrated in the mountainous and hilly regions of Nepal, China - our northern neighbors as well as various regions of Asia such as Malaysia, Thailand, Bhutan, India, Laos and Japan where buddhism practitioners are concentrated. It takes on different names and is celebrated by the ethnic groups that recognize it in their own individual ways, for instance, the Gurungs call it "Tola Losar" whereas the Sherpas celebrate "Gyalpo Losar". Today is "Sonam Losar" and is commemorated with much fanfare by the Tamang community.

Background of "Tamangs"
One of the indigenous group's of Nepal with their language being the 5th most spoken in Nepal, the Tamang community is famous for nurturing a deep respect for nature and having abundant skill in horse riding. They recognize 12 different years and represents these years as the year of the mouse, cow, tiger, cat, vulture, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, dog, bird and deer with the mouse being the first year in rotation, and deer the last. These 12 years also have been found to represent the 12 signs of the horoscopes as well. It is believed that this system of representation of the years traces it's roots to China where the new year is also named after different animals. Only sharing a origin with the Chinese new year however, this new year is celebrated by the Tamang community in their own unique style.

Celebration of Sonam Lhosar
The Tamang community celebrates Sonam Losar every month of Magh (January — Febuary in the Gregorian calendar) with various activities and event's planned. Starting with a everyday Tamang household, it is common to see the house being meticulously cleaned and being marked with colored flags and Buddhist mantra cloths. Family gatherings with grand feasts are organized to exchange well wishes amongst family. Monasteries are adorned with colorful accessories which attracts lots of onlookers who also visit these monasteries to receive blessings from the residents monks to bolster their progress and happiness in their lives and in the lives of their families. In a community, the people participate in different cultural programs such as musical and dance performances also known as “Tamang Selo” which are quite well known for being built around love, daily struggles of the community and the meaning of life. Considered a staple musical instrument, the Damphu drum(Similar to a large tambourine) is also used to accompany and augment these performances. Other notable events include celebrations at Tundikhel, Kathmandu where various contests of skills, feasts are organized (Miss Tamang being such an event). It also provides ample opportunity to witness members of the Tamang community in their traditional garbs and jewellery. Furthermore, due to its status as a national holiday it is common for various national figureheads and notable citizens to send their well wishes to the community.

Organizing these myriad of events and festivities, the Tamang community has made sure that this tradition has been going strong for more than 100 years and will go on with the same energy for many generations to come. Come and join in, exchange well wishes and get a chance to interact and experience a vivid culture and its people during this most auspicious occasion.

Happy Sonam Losar!!

ShreeBallabh Jayanti

Who is Acharya Shri Ballabha?
Acharya Shri Ballabha was a great philosopher and a staunch exponent in the path of Bhakti. Sri Ballabhacharya composed many sokas, texts and hymns. Among them, Yamunashtaka, Balabodha, Siddhanta Muktavali, Pushtipharamaryadabheda, Siddhanta Rahasya, Navratnastotra etc. are remembered as his famous works. Apart from that, Shri Ballabh translated many texts in Sanskrit language into simple language so that common people can easily understand it. Today is the birth anniversary of Mahaprabhu Ballabhacharya.

Shri Ballabha, an academic prodigy
Seeing his son's talent at an early age, Sri Ballabha's father sent him to Acharya Vishnucitta for education at the age of eight. By the age of thirteen Sri Ballab had studied all the scriptures like Veda-Vedanga etc.

As Shri Ballabha's age increased, the fame of his knowledge began to spread in all directions. Later Sri Ballabha refuted the teachings of Shankaracharya and said that even Brahma did not understand the truth of this world. That is why Sri Vallabh's philosophical thought is also called "Suddhadvaita". Being highly inspired by his philosophical thoughts, the king of Vijayanagara at that time bestowed the title of Shrimad Acharya on Shri Ballabha. Since then Shri Ballabh Mahaprabhu is popularly known as Vallabhacharya.

Suyog Dhakal