KATHMANDU: The Sherpa community is celebrating the holy festival of Gyalbo Lhosar by organizing various programs today. The greatest festival of the Sherpa community, Gyalbo Lhosar, is celebrated for 15 days from the first day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Fagun as per the lunar calendar.

On the first day of the festival, the Sherpas clean their houses, surroundings and settlements and decorate them with flags and festoons. They also invite their relatives to their houses and install idols of the Buddha at homes and the monasteries for special worships.

During the worship, the eminent persons of the community, including the Lamas and the community chiefs are invited at homes and monasteries to perform the worship. Feasting and celebrations follow the worships. The Buddhist monks and nuns also celebrate this festival.

On the occasion, the Swastika, and the sun and the moon are painted on the walls of the houses. People are donned in colourful new traditional attires and ornaments. New Year greetings are exchanged amidst gaiety and lavish feasting. Sherpa people also receive blessings from elders on the occasion.

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Vice President Parmanand Jha, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai and different leaders have expressed best wishes to Nepali Sherpa community in the country and abroad on the occasion of the 2140^th Gyalo Lhosar today.

In a message, the President said, “I wish this festival strengthen fraternity and unity among all Nepalis and encourage us all for the protection and promotion of Nepali culture and traditions.”

Similarly, Vice President Parmananda Jha, in a message of best wishes on the occasion of the Gyalbo Lhosar to wished for unity among all Nepalis to meet the present need of peace, prosperity and the fresh elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Likewise, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has, in a message given on the occasion of the Gyalbo Lhosar, the greatest festival of the Sherpa community today, said our country is a unique example of multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural features.

“The special and unique customs and tradition of every ethnic community and creed is reflected in this pluralism. It has become the tradition of every Nepali to respect and revere each other’s culture, practices and aspirations. Festivals and traditions such as this have been helping in maintaining the sentimental unity and social tolerance among the different Nepali communities,” the prime minister has said in the message.