Bhutia, Sherpa, Tamang and other Buddhist families · Pakyong and the Silk Route
Losar at Aritar Gumpa
Feb–Mar, first days of the first Tibetan lunar month
Photo: Ailiajameel · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Losar is the Tibetan Buddhist new year. At Aritar Gumpa, a Kagyu monastery above Lampokhari lake, and at village gumpas up the Silk Route, it is a quiet community occasion of prayers, butter lamps, new prayer flags and family visits rather than a staged spectacle.
Losar, which simply means new year, falls on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, usually in February or early March. In Sikkim it is celebrated by Bhutia, Sherpa, Tamang and other Buddhist families, and it is a state holiday. The days before are for cleaning houses and settling debts; the days of Losar itself are for prayer, new clothes, food and visiting relatives.
Aritar Gumpa, a monastery of the Kagyu order on the hillside above Lampokhari lake, is the main Buddhist temple for the lower Silk Route villages. Around Losar, families come up to light butter lamps, make offerings and hang new prayer flags, and monks lead prayers. Higher up, the small Gadenchoeling gumpa at Gnathang serves the herding families of Nathang Valley.
We are honest about what you will see: village gumpas mark Losar with prayer and community, not with big public mask dances. If you want a cham dance, ask us about the monastery calendars at Rumtek or in Gangtok for the same season. What Aritar offers is the feeling of a hill village celebrating its new year, khapse biscuits on every table and greetings of Losar tashi delek on the road.
If you go
Tips for the day
- Walk clockwise around the gumpa and its prayer wheels, and remove shoes where asked.
- Do not photograph monks or worshippers at prayer without asking first.
- Late February is also a good time to see Aritar clear and dry, before the spring haze.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Losar at Aritar Gumpa
When is Losar in Sikkim?
Losar starts on the first day of the first Tibetan lunar month, usually in February and sometimes in early March. The exact date shifts each year with the lunar calendar. In Sikkim it is a public holiday and Buddhist families celebrate for several days. Check the year's date with us, and check current status before you travel.
Are there mask dances at Aritar Gumpa for Losar?
We do not promise any. At village gumpas such as Aritar, Losar is mostly prayers, butter lamps, offerings and family visits. The big masked cham dances in Sikkim are tied to specific monastery calendars, such as the Losoong and Guthor dances at larger monasteries. If a cham is important to you, ask us to match your dates to a monastery that holds one.
Can non-Buddhists visit the gumpa during Losar?
Yes. Visitors of any faith are generally welcome at Aritar Gumpa if they dress modestly, keep quiet during prayers, walk clockwise and ask before taking pictures. A small offering at the altar is welcome but not expected. If monks are busy with rituals, wait outside and enjoy the view over the lake.
Is February a good time to visit Aritar?
Yes. Aritar at about 1,450 m is cool but not freezing in February, with clear mornings and good views towards the high peaks. It is a quiet month with lower homestay rates. If you plan to continue to Zuluk and Nathang, keep spare days, as snow can close the upper Silk Route road. Check current status before you travel.
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Where it happens and how to get there
village
Aritar1,400M
Aritar
Lake village on the old Kalimpong trade road
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