Losar at Zang Dhok Palri and the Tibetan monasteries
February or early March (first day of the Tibetan lunar year)
Losar marks the first day of the Tibetan lunar calendar, so its date moves each year, usually falling in February and sometimes in early March. In the days before, families clean their homes and make khapse, fried biscuits in twisted shapes. Monks hold rituals to clear away the obstacles of the old year.
On the day itself, people visit monasteries to light butter lamps, offer khada scarves and hang new prayer flags. Zang Dhok Palri on Durpin Hill and the older Tibetan monasteries in town are the main places to see this. Some monasteries hold masked dances in the period around Losar, but the schedule varies, so ask at the monastery.
For travellers, Losar is a quiet, respectful festival rather than a show. Shops run by Tibetan families may close for two or three days. Visitors are usually welcome at monasteries during the day if they dress modestly and follow the monks' lead.
How to do it well
- Check the Losar date for the year, which follows the Tibetan calendar
- Walk clockwise around stupas and prayer wheels
- Ask before photographing rituals or monks
- Expect some Tibetan-run shops and restaurants to close for a few days
- Carry warm clothes; February mornings on Durpin Hill are cold
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is Losar in Kalimpong?
Losar falls on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, which usually lands in February and sometimes in early March. The exact date changes every year, and Bhutanese and Sikkimese calendars can differ by a day or so. Check the date with a monastery or a Tibetan calendar before planning around it.
Can tourists attend Losar prayers at Durpin monastery?
Usually yes. Visitors can enter Zang Dhok Palri and other monasteries during daytime prayers if they dress modestly, remove shoes before entering halls and keep quiet. Do not sit on raised seats or point your feet at the altar. Photography inside prayer halls is often not allowed, so ask first.
Are there masked dances at Losar in Kalimpong?
Some Tibetan Buddhist monasteries hold cham, or masked dances, around the New Year, but the dates and places vary from year to year and some dances happen before Losar rather than on it. Ask at Zang Dhok Palri or your hotel a few days ahead. Do not plan a trip only around a dance you have not confirmed.
What should I eat during Losar?
Look for khapse, the fried twisted biscuits made in Tibetan homes before the New Year, and guthuk, a noodle soup eaten on the eve of Losar in many families. Tibetan restaurants in Kalimpong may serve special dishes, though some close for family celebrations. Butter tea is offered in homes and is polite to accept.