The Tamu Society Qatar (TSQ) and Tamu Pye Lhu Sangh Qatar (TPLSQ) recently celebrated the festival of Loshar at Shamal Park and Shalimar Restaurant, respectively.
The TSQ programme was chaired by its president, Krishna Tamu, while Nepal embassy’s Second Secretary Gayatri Poudel was the chief guest. The TPLSQ programme was chaired by its president, Yudha Jang Pahachyu Tamu and Deb Bahadur Pahchyu Tamu — president of Tamu Pye Lhu Sansa Kaski Nepal — was the chief guest.
The two programmes were attended in total by more than 500 Tamus living in Qatar. Gurungs, who call themselves Tamu, are indigenous inhabitants of west-central parts of Nepal. Some also live east of Kathmandu. There are numerous clans of Gurung, the members of which are all well known for their valour, humour, singing and dancing skills.
Tamu Losar is celebrated on the 15th day of Poush in Nepali calendar and marks the beginning of the Tamu Sambat or Gurung Calendar Year. Losar is a time for family members to get together.



A Tamu cultural dance at the Shamal Park programme organised by the Tamu Society Qatar.

Gurungs all across the world celebrate Tamu Losar by organising rallies and cultural programmes. They also visit Buddhist shrines. The events in Nepal offer an opportunity to travellers to witness the cultural heritage of the Gurung community.
Losar also heralds the change in ‘Lho’. According to the oriental astrological system, there are 12 lhos — garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat. Therefore, each year is marked by a particular animal and they are arranged in a single circle (on paper), closely following the Tibetan calendar with its 12 animals. In early days, when there was no calendar system in Nepal, the 12 rotation system was used to calculate peoples’ ages. Losar it traditionally celebrated for three days with a banbhoj (picnic).
At the Shamal Park event, people in small and large groups sat on the ground enjoying delicious Gurung delicacies. People performed traditional and cultural dance. The warm hospitality at the Losar celebration was evident from the plates filled with sel roti (rice flour donuts) and achaar (spicy pickles).
In both programmes, the Tamu men wore Bhangra — a white shirt-like cloth tied across the chest and open like a bag at the back for carrying things — and Kachhad, a short kilt. Tamu women, both girls and teenagers, were seen in their maroon velvet Ghalek (blouses), enhanced by large gold earrings and semi-precious stone necklaces.
The cultural shows at both events were the pivotal attraction, with the Tamu people showcasing their rich tradition and culture. Some of the dances they performed at the events were Rodhighar, Chudka, Sorathi, Ghantu and Dhori.