By Dr. Kunchok Gyaltsen
February 7, 2008

Tibetan New Year

In Tibetan, we call the New Year Lo-gSar, which means ‘new year’ or ‘start of a year’. Lo-gSar is the most important celebration in Tibetan culture, because it is the point of concluding a complete year and starting a fresh year (as all cultures do around the world). That is, we celebrate our work and achievements from the completed year and we look forward to a more productive and blessed new year. As a Tibetan tradition, Lo-gSar is celebrated from the first day to the fifteenth (or the full moon day). For over two weeks a variety of activities occur, including family reunions, the sharing of traditional foods, children’s hair-making celebrations, teenage girls’ hair-making ceremonies, weddings, Buddhist ceremonies and spiritual rituals, as well as entertaining performances.

Lo-gSar is based on the Tibetan calendar system, which is formulated by Tibetan Astronomy and Astrology, otherwise known as rTsis in Tibetan. rTsis is the Tibetan science of mathematics, and it has three major subjects: Elemental Astrology, Lunar Astronomy, and Planet Astronomy, comprising a comprehensive study of the universal system. The Tibetan calendar system is calculated using Planet Astronomy, which is called sKar rTsis in Tibetan, and is based on the Buddhist Kalachaktra system. The main textbook of the Kalachaktra was translated into Tibetan in 1027, and Tibetan scholars integrated the Kalachaktra system with Elemental Astrology and Lunar Astronomy to create a comprehensive rTsis system for Tibet. The starting year is based on the year of Buddha’s enlightenment or Nirvana.

This year (2008 in the Christian calendar) is actually the year 2135 in the Tibetan counting system. It is the year of the Male Earth Rat, and starts on February 7, 2008.

May the Year of Male Earth Rat bring good luck and many blessings to everyone!