Gurung community celebrates Lhochar

GANGTOK, 30 Dec: The Gurung community of the state celebrated Tamu Lhochar [the Gurung New Year] today. Here in Gangtok, it was celebrated with special prayers and offerings at the Urgen Pema Choling Tamu Gumpa situated at Burtuk near the Helipad. Former Chief Minister BB Gooroong and members of the Gurung community from South and West Districts were also present for the celebration.
“Today, we are celebrating our new year and so we are holding prayers here in the Gumpa to appease the gods and pray for the well being of the community”, said HB Gurung [president, All Sikkim Gurung [Tamu] Buddhist Association], while speaking to media persons today. Pujas are being held all over the State, but this being the main monastery of the community, the main celebration and prayers are being held here and Gurungs from all over have gathered here, he added.
The celebrations had started on 28 December at Gurung homes where the old Lungtar [prayer flags] were replaced by new ones, but the New Year is celebrated today, he said and added that till yesterday they were in the year of the Dragon but from today they were entering the year of the Snake and taking blessings from elders.
“As we also follow Buddhist rituals and since most of the people cannot perform the pujas at home, so we hold the prayers here in the Gumpa for the convenience of the people, so that everyone can come and take the blessings from the Rinpoche”, he stated.
This year the Gurung community is dedicating their new year to safe guarding of women folk and earlier before beginning of the puja, they observed a two-minute silence to pay respect to the Delhi rape victim who died yesterday.
A rally was also taken out which started from the Gumpa past Bojoghari, crossed Hospital Point then went down to Deorali and going through Indira Bye Pass ended back at the Gumpa. Later in the day a cultural programme was also performed by the children of the community.