Losar festival of Himachal Pradesh is also known as the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated with the same fervour and zeal as any other New Year celebration across the globe.
Though the festival is majorly misunderstood as devil's dance, this festival has a great significance for the local people of the state and is carried out with a belief to attract prosperity and happiness.
People celebrate this festival with a lot of preparations along with a pinch of religious customs. They light up lamps and then offer prayers early in the morning in front of their local deities.
The roots of the Losar Festival can be traced from the pre-Buddhist Era in the Tibet region. It was observed every year during the months of winter. The festival is celebrated by worshipping the local deities and spirits.
Besides being the Tibetan New Year, the festival holds many other interpretations. Losar festival commemorated the assassination of a cruel Tibetan king Langdarma back in the 9th century. In addition to this, people also burn sacred lamps for a local deity Kimshu and sing songs in the morning.
Major Attractions of Losar Festival 2024 in Lahaul and Spiti
1. Dance Drama. The local people participate in dance performances and dramas on stage, often known as devil dance
2. Competitions. The best one being fun-filled battles to entertain the audience and enjoy the vibe of the festival
3. Musical Performance. The high-energy musical performances rejuvenate the ambiance and fill it with positive vibes that act as a good omen to celebrate the beginning of the Tibetan New Year
4. Metho Procession. Metho is a procession of fire that is carried out in the evening and people march in the markets chanting holy slogans. This procession is a major highlight of the entire festival.
How to Reach Lahaul and Spiti for Losar Festival 2024
Lahaul and Spiti district is one of the most visited districts in Himachal Pradesh. It is home to many popular tourist destinations such as Manali, Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Mandi, and Shimla. You too can witness the beauty of the place and its local festival by arriving here via roadways, airways or railways. Listed below are some best travel options that you may consider if planning to visit Lahaul and Spiti district.
By Air. The nearest airport to Lahaul and Spiti District is Kullu Manali airport located in Bhuntar. From the airport, you have to cover another 85 km via a local transport such as a taxi or bus to reach Lahaul and Spiti district. The airport is well-connected to major cities in India. You can travel with the following airlines via their non-stop flights to Himachal Pradesh.
- Delhi - AirIndia
- Mumbai - SpiceJet, AirAsia, Vistara, GoAir, IndiGo
- Kolkata - SpiceJet, Vistara, IndiGo, AirAsia
- Lucknow - AirIndia, IndiGo, GoAir, Vistara
- Chandigarh - AirAsia, GoAir, Vistara, IndiGo
List of flights from different Indian cities to Kullu
By Rail. The nearest railway station is Chandigarh Railway Station which is approximately 220 kilometers away from Lahaul and Spiti. You can get on a local bus or hire a taxi to reach the desired destination in the district. The following are the trains which you may consider if planning a rail journey to the district. Arriving from Delhi you may get on Kalka SHTBDI, Himalayan Queen, Sampark Kranthi, or Paschim Express and from Mumbai Paschim Express, and CDG SUP Fast to reach Chandigarh Railway Station.
By Road. Road connectivity from the nearby regions and major cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Kolkata, etc. is great and you may arrive here by your personal vehicle. However, considering the geographical location of Lahaul and Spiti which is at a high altitude and extreme weather conditions, it is not advisable to drive to the district on your own.
You may opt for inter-state tourist buses or cabs with expert drivers who have a good experience of driving in the hilly region and fairly good idea about the local routes. There are regular buses run by Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) with one-way fare starting from Rs.1500 from Delhi and Manali, and Rs.950 from Shimla.
You can plan your trip and create your own route to the city with Adotrip’s technically driven circuit planner. Click here
Frequently Asked Questions about Losar Festival 2024
Q1. losar festival is celebrated in which state ?
Ans. Losar is celebrated in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. It is a 3-day festival which is celebrated with great fervour in this northeastern state of India.
