By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 2: People of the Tamang community are marking ‘Sonam Lhosar’ as New Year on Wednesday across the nation.  
The Tamangs mark Sonam Lhosar as their New Year every year.

The government has also announced a public holiday across the country on the occasion.
Issuing a statement Tuesday, the Home Ministry said that a Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday decided to give a public holiday in all government and public offices across the county on the occasion of Sonam Lhosar on Wednesday.

The Tamangs divide their year into 12 cycles and each cycle is represented by 12 different animals-- Garuda (eagle), serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat-- which they call ‘lho’. During each Lhosar they bid farewell to the existing ‘lho’ and welcome a new one.
Chepang community will celebrate Nwagi festival offering new harvests to the ancestors on the day. There is a belief among the Chepangs that one suffers from diseases if a new harvest is eaten without offering it to the departed souls.

The Chepangs live in Makwanpurm, Chitwan and Dhading districts.
However, both the Tamangs and Chepangs will be marking their festivals within their houses because of COVID-19 fear this year.