The government has decided to grant a public holiday on the 2nd of February on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar, the new year of the Tamang community. Government offices and public organizations across the country will come to a closure on the festival marked as the New Year by the Tamang communities. Basanta Bhatta, under-secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, releasing a press statement today, said the government decided to declare a public holiday on the occasion the day before.
Likewise, the Nwagi is the major festival observed by the Chepang community and a meeting of the Bagmati province’s Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers has decided to announce a public holiday in the province marking both the festivals.
Sonam Lhosar is one of the three ‘lhosar’s marked in Nepal. The other two ‘lhosar’s are Tamu Lhosar, observed by the Gurung community, and Gyalpo Lhosar, by Tibetans and the Sherpa community.
Sonam Lhosar is also observed by the Yolmo people of Nepal and in the Sikkim and Darjeeling regions of India. Sonam in the Tamang language means agriculture. Historically, the festival is celebrated after harvesting the crops. Tamang community celebrates this festival with their ethnic attire and eating delicacies including a special snack called ‘Khapse’- a kind of bread made from ghee and flour and deep-fried.