The Tamu Lochar festival is celebrated as the New Year by which community of Sikkim?

Tamu Lochar is the New Year festival of the Gurung community, celebrated in Sikkim, the Darjeeling hills of West Bengal and Nepal. It is celebrated every year on 30 December. "Tamu" is the name by which the Gurungs call themselves, and "Lochar" means new year.

The Gurungs follow a traditional calendar that divides time into a cycle of 12 years, each named after an animal or bird, such as the cow, mouse, tiger, cat, eagle, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and deer. Tamu Lochar marks the beginning of a new year in this cycle. The festival is celebrated with prayers and rituals in Buddhist monasteries and homes, the hoisting of prayer flags, visits to family and friends, and community gatherings. People wear their traditional costumes and jewellery and perform the traditional dances and songs of the Gurungs, such as the Ghatu dance. Special foods and drinks are prepared, and elders bless the younger members of the family.

The Gurungs are one of the communities of Nepali origin living in Sikkim. Many Gurungs are known for their service as soldiers in the Gorkha regiments of the Indian and British armies.

Sikkim is home to many communities, each with its own New Year festival:

• Losoong (Namsoong) of the Bhutias and Lepchas, in December.
• Sonam Lochar of the Tamangs, in January-February.
• Tamu Lochar of the Gurungs, on 30 December.
• Losar, the Tibetan New Year, celebrated by Buddhists in February-March.
• The Limbus celebrate Chasok Tangnam, a harvest festival, and the Kirat Khambu Rai community celebrates Sakewa.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Tamang community celebrates Sonam Lochar.
• ✗Lepcha community celebrates Namsoong (Losoong).
• ✗Limbu community celebrates Chasok Tangnam.