Kathmandu. Sonam Lhochar is being celebrating today across the country. The festival is celebrated by Tamang community, the indigenous nationalities of Nepal. Tamang people mark Sonam Lhochar as their New Year.
Lhochar is a combination of two words (Lho+Char) in Tamang language. Lho stands for Year and Char stands for New, which together means New Year.
The Tamang have a unique tradition of marking each year with distinct creatures, from a list of 12 which are Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog and Boar.
This year the Tamang community is celebrating the year of Ox which starts from today February 12. Nepal government has declared public holiday today countrywide on the occasion of Sonam Lhochar.
