Embracing Culture, Community, and Solidarity through the Tibetan New Year

An article written by Tenzin Sangmo

My name is Tenzin Sangmo, I am a nurse and a Tibetan living in Bristol. We have a small Tibetan community called Bristol4Tibet here in Bristol, actively engaging with other communities and organisations in promoting our unique identity, culture, heritage and glorifying the multiculturalism of the city of Bristol. As Diverse Artists Networks (DAN) creates opportunities, social inclusions, bringing multicultural communities together and embrace diversity, we have always been a special part of their inclusive engagements and activities. 

Now our Tibetan new year is coming up, which is called Losar (‘Lo’ means year and ‘sar’ means new). Losar is a new year festival,  is celebrated on the first day of  the Lunisolar Tibetan Calendar, which corresponds to a day in February or March in the Gregorian Calendar. This year Tibetan new year will commence on 28th of February, usually celebrated for fifteen days in Tibet. But here, due to the work schedules in western world, we celebrate for at least three days, gathering with friends and families, doing religious ritual “Sangsol” on the third day, where we hang new prayer flags for prosperous, happy and healthy years to come. This losar, Tibetan new year is celebrated as year 2152, year of wood snake. 2025 is the Tibetan Year of the Wood Snake, blending the traits of the Snake with the element of Wood.  During Tibetan new year, it’s like celebrating Christmas. We wear new clothes, wear Tibetan costumes, drink Tibetan rice wine soup  “Chang-Kol”, go to the temple to pray, gather with families for sumptuous meal and celebrations. Losar is also celebrated by people sharing our same traditions and culture like Bhutan, Nepal, and Indian – Himalayan regions. 

We, the Tibetan community in Bristol wish you all a very happy Tibetan Losar. May the new year brings all a happy, healthy and fulfilling life. As many of you are aware, on 7th January 2025, Tibet- Dhingri- Shigatse region was hit by deadly earthquake which led to loss of many human lives and villages. In solidarity in their grieving and bereavement process, Tibetans outside Tibet during losar remember their sorrow and join them in their grief. Happy Losar to all and Tashi Deleck.