Losar is the celebration of the Tibetan New Year, the festivities of which starts on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar and last for 3 days. This year, it is going to start on 21st February according to the Gregorian calendar. Observed by Tibetans, Tibetan Buddhists and Bhutanese all over the world, it is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of the religion.
Losar History and Significance

Losar 2023
The celebrations of Losar date back to the pre-Buddhist period when Tibetans used to follow the Bon religion. A spiritual ceremony was organized every winter in which devotees offered incense smoke to local deities and spirits, in belief that they will ensure the wellbeing of the people and their surroundings. This religious festival became a farmers’ festival that was held during the blossoming of flowers on apricot trees.
During the reign of the 9th Tibetan King, Pude Gungyal, an elderly woman taught people to calculate time based on different phases of moon. It was after the foundation of the lunar calendar, the farmers’ festival took the form of Losar.
Losar Celebrations across India

Losar 2023
Losar is a 15-day festival in which people clean their houses thoroughly, wear new clothes and offer freshly cooked food to their god. The main celebrations take place for the first three days. On the first day, a beer-based beverage named changkoi is prepared and distributed among the people gathered.
The second day is known as King’s Losar, and involves holding religious ceremonies. People visit local monasteries and give gifts to the monks. Firecrackers are also burnt as they are believed to scare away any evil spirits lurking around.
On the third day, people wake up early, wear new clothes and present offerings to gods and worship them. Families unite and feast on kapse (a kind of a cake) and chaang (local alcoholic drink).
Also, Know About the Diwali Holiday Date
Best Places to Observe the Celebrations of Losar
- Leh-Ladakh
- Sikkim
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Darjeeling
- Himachal Pradesh
Other Festivals in India with Holiday Type
Festivals in India | Day | Date | Holiday Type |
New Year | Sunday | 1 January | Public |
Lohri | Saturday | 14 January | Restricted |
Makar Sankranti | Saturday | 14 January | Restricted |
Pongal | Sunday | 15 January | Restricted |
Basant Panchmi | Thursday | 26 January | Restricted |
Republic Day | Thursday | 26 January | Public |
Guru Ravidass Jayanti | Sunday | 5 February | Restricted |
Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati Jayanti | Wednesday | 15 February | Restricted |
Mahashivratri | Saturday | 18 February | Restricted |
Losar | Tuesday | 21 February | Restricted |
Holi | Wednesday | 8 March | Public |
Ram Navami | Thursday | 30 March | Restricted |
Mahavir Jayanti | Tuesday | 4 April | Restricted |
Good Friday | Friday | 7 April | Public |
Easter | Sunday | 9 April | Restricted |
Vaisakhi | Friday | 14 April | Restricted |
Eid Ul Fitr | Saturday | 22 April | Public |
Buddha Purnima | Friday | 5 May | Public |
Rabindra Jayanti | Tuesday | 9 May | Restricted |
Rath Yatra | Tuesday | 20 June | Restricted |
Eid Al Adha | Thursday | 29 June | Restricted |
Muharram | Saturday | 29 July | Public |
Independence Day | Tuesday | 15 August | Public |
Parsi New Year Navroz | Wednesday | 16 August | Restricted |
Onam | Tuesday | 29 August | Restricted |
Raksha Bandhan | Wednesday | 30 August | Restricted |
Janmashtami | Thursday | 7 September | Restricted |
Ganesh Chaturthi | Tuesday | 19 September | Restricted |
Id E Milad | Thursday | 28 September | Public |
Gandhi Jayanti | Monday | 2 October | Public |
Dussehra | Tuesday | 24 October | Public |
Valmiki Jayanti | Saturday | 28 October | Restricted |
Halloween Day | Tuesday | 31 October | NA |
Karva Chauth | Tuesday | 1 November | Restricted |
Diwali | Sunday | 12 November | Public |
Bhai Dooj | Tuesday | 14 November | Restricted |
Chhath Puja | Sunday | 19 November | Restricted |
Guru Nanak Jayanti | Monday | 27 November | Public |
Christmas | Monday | 25 December | Public |