Tamu Lhosar 2026: Celebrating the Gurung New Year in Nepal

Tamu Lhosar 2026 falls on Wednesday 30 December. Here's what the Gurung New Year means, where to catch the celebrations in Kathmandu and around Pokhara, and how to join in respectfully.

Just as most of the world gets ready for one new year, Nepal's Gurung community welcomes another. Tamu Lhosar marks the start of the Tamu Sambat, the Gurung calendar year, and it's one of the most colourful days of Nepal's winter.

Tamu Lhosar 2026: the date

Tamu Lhosar is celebrated on the 15th day of the Nepali month of Poush, which lands on 30 December almost every year. In 2026 that's a Wednesday, and it's a public holiday in Nepal.

"Tamu" is what the Gurung people call themselves. "Lhosar" combines words for year and new. Put together, it's simply the Gurung New Year.

What is Tamu Lhosar?

The Gurungs are one of Nepal's indigenous peoples, with deep roots in the hills of central-western Nepal. For them, Lhosar is a time to close the old year, honour family and community, and celebrate culture out loud.

Expect traditional dress, songs and dances, cultural rallies and plenty of food shared between families and neighbours. It's a joyful, outward-facing festival, and visitors are usually welcome to watch the public celebrations.

Where to see Tamu Lhosar

Kathmandu: Tundikhel

In Kathmandu, the biggest public gathering is at Tundikhel, the open ground in the city centre. In recent years the celebrations there have been formally opened by national leaders, with stages, cultural performances and crowds in traditional Gurung dress. Celebrations often start a day before the holiday itself.

Pokhara and the hills

Lhosar is celebrated with cultural tableaux across Gurung-majority districts such as Kaski (home to Pokhara), Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Parbat and Manang. Pokhara is an easy base if you'd like to see Lhosar outside the capital, with community programmes and gatherings in and around the city.

Programmes are organised locally each year, so check with your guesthouse or local news a few days before for venues and timings.

What to expect

• Traditional dress: look for families and performers in colourful Gurung attire.

• Songs and dances: group dances and live music on public stages.

• Rallies: cultural processions through the streets in the morning.

• Food and family: at home, Lhosar is about feasting and visiting relatives.

How to join, and what it costs

Public celebrations like the gathering at Tundikhel are free to attend. Arrive in the late morning to catch performances, and be ready for big crowds. Because 30 December is a public holiday, offices and some shops close, and traffic around central Kathmandu can be heavy.

Tamu Lhosar etiquette

• Ask before close-up photos, especially of people in traditional dress.

• Give performers space. Watch from the edges, not the middle of a dance.

• Learn the greeting. A warm "Happy Lhosar" goes a long way.

• Accept hospitality graciously. If you're offered food or a drink, take a little, using your right hand.

Loku's tip: if you're in Nepal over the year end, you can celebrate two new years in two days. Lhosar on the 30th, then the calendar one on the 31st.

More festivals ahead

Nepal's festival calendar has something happening almost every month. Subscribe to The Lokoon Letter for festival dates and places to celebrate, sent once a month.