Kathmandu. The Gurung community is celebrating the Tamu Lhosar festival today by saying goodbye to the old year and welcoming the new year. Since Lho means 'Year' and 'Saar' means change, the day of change of year is called 'Tamu Lhosar'. Tamu Lhosar is grandly celebrated by the Gurung community as a new year.

Tamu Lhosar festival is associated with sunlight. This festival is celebrated in Pus because the heat of the sun comes first in Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski, Parbat and other districts where there is a majority of Gurung. After this, it is believed that this festival is celebrated in Magh and Fagun because the heat of the sun comes to the areas inhabited by the Tamang and Sherpa tribes respectively.

Experts say that this festival is also important because the night of 15th of January is the longest and the nights after that get shorter. On the occasion of Tamu Lhosar, the government has given a public holiday today. On this occasion, a special program is being organized by the Gurung community in Tundikhel.

People of Gurung community dress up in traditional and cultural costumes and participate in the program. Special dishes of the Gurung community will be exhibited in the program. On this occasion, Lhosar festival has started from Sunday in Tundikhel of the capital. Thousands of people participate in the festival.