Kathmandu, Nepal is celebrating Gyalpo Lhosar today, marking the Tibetan and Sherpa New Year with religious devotion and vibrant cultural performances across the country. The Government of Nepal has declared a nationwide public holiday in honour of the festival, which holds deep significance for Himalayan communities including the Sherpa, Hyolmo, and Bhotiya peoples. Recognised as the “King’s New Year,” Gyalpo Lhosar is the most widely observed among the three Lhosar festivals celebrated in Nepal. It signifies the beginning of the new lunar year in the Tibetan calendar and is regarded as one of the most important annual observances for Tibetan Buddhist communities. Beginning of the Year of the Fire Horse (2153): This year’s observance is particularly notable as it marks the commencement of the Year of the Fire Horse (2153) in the Tibetan lunisolar calendar, a combination that occurs only once every 60 years. In Nepali and Himalayan usage, the year is traditionally referred to as Me-Ta Lho (मे-ता ल्हो). The term derives from Tibetan and local Himalayan dialects where, Me (मे) means Fire, Ta (ता) means Horse and Lho (ल्हो) means Year.
Some traditions further identify this cycle as a “Yang” or Male Fire Horse year (Me-Pho-Ta Lho), symbolizing dynamism, intensity, and transformative energy within the zodiac system. Major celebrations are taking place at key Buddhist sites in Kathmandu, including Boudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath, where devotees are offering prayers and participating in rituals. Monasteries are hosting masked Cham dances, while the Sherpa community in the Everest (Solukhumbu) region is marking the festival with traditional ceremonies and gatherings. Central to Gyalpo Lhosar are family reunions and shared meals. Households prepare traditional delicacies such as Khapse (deep-fried pastries) and Guthuk, a special nine-ingredient noodle soup traditionally consumed on the eve of the New Year. These culinary traditions are accompanied by prayers for prosperity, health, and harmony in the year ahead. Although rooted in Tibetan tradition, Gyalpo Lhosar has become an integral part of Nepal’s multicultural calendar. The nationwide public holiday underscores the state’s recognition of the country’s diverse ethnic and cultural heritage.
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