Tamu Lhosar

{{Short description|New year festival of Gurung people of Nepal}}

{{Infobox holiday

| holiday_name = Tamu Lhosar

| image = Ghatu Dance.jpg

| caption = Tamu Lhosar celebration with Ghatu Dance

| nickname =

| observedby = Gurung communities

| date = 15th day of Poush in the Nepali calendar

| observances = People gather together, sing different traditional songs, and perform traditional dances

| celebrations =

| type =

| frequency = Annual

| longtype = Gurung festival

}}

Tamu Lhosar is a new year festival celebrated by the Gurung people. It is celebrated on every 15th Poush (December/January) of the Nepali calendar and is observed as a public holiday.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 31, 2019 |title=Gurung Community Celebrates Tamu Lhosar, New Year |url=https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2019/12/31/gurung-community-celebrates-tamu-lhosar-new-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509113353/https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2019/12/31/gurung-community-celebrates-tamu-lhosar-new-year/ |archive-date=May 9, 2021 |accessdate=February 17, 2021 |work=SpotlightNepal}}

Similar to the Lhosars celebrated by other ethnic groups such as Tamangs and Sherpas, the Gurungs divide the years into 12 cycles, known as Lohokor, with each cycle represented by a different animal. These animals are the eagle, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat.{{Cite web |last=Gurung |first=Sachitra |date=January 2018 |title=Tamu Lhosar, New Year of the Gurungs |url=http://ecs.com.np/festival/tamu-lhosar-new-year-of-the-gurungs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913172819/http://ecs.com.np/festival/tamu-lhosar-new-year-of-the-gurungs |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |accessdate=February 17, 2021 |work=ECS Nepal}}

In Tamu kyi, the word Lhosar represents "new" (Lho) and "change" (Sar), with each of the 12 animals signifying a new Lho. The celebration of Lhosar signifies a farewell to the existing Lho to welcome the new one.{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2024 |title=Tamu Lhosar being marked today |url=https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/54535 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230054140/https://risingnepaldaily.com/news/54535 |archive-date=December 30, 2024 |access-date=January 30, 2025 |website=The Rising Nepal}}