Losar, the Tibetan Buddhist celebration of New Years, is the most important holiday in Tibetan Buddhism and is focused on putting the old year to rest and starting the New Year fresh. The celebration lasts for 15 days, with the first three days filled with Buddhist rituals and practices to welcome the new year. The holiday atmosphere is filled with joy and positive aspirations. Preparation begins weeks before, by thoroughly cleaning our homes, minimizing our lives, resolving quarrels, settling debts, decorating our homes, preparing special food, and preparing ourselves spiritually. Then on New Year’s Day, Families and friends put on their best clothes and gather together to feast, exchange gifts, visit friends, dance, and celebrate life. Common Tibetan rituals during Losar involve lighting butter lamps, making spiritual offerings, hanging prayer flags, and attending teachings by Buddhist lamas. SBT invites everyone to join us in preparing for Losar in the weeks leading up to the New Year. 

Now is the time to begin preparing for the year ahead.
We have the month of December to put away 2024 so we can begin our next year fresh. Now is the time to clean our homes, simplify our lives, resolve obligations, decorate our homes, and prepare ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually for the next year.