February 21: The Gyalpo Lhosar, the cultural festival of the Sherpa community that falls on the first day of the waxing moon in the Nepali month of Falgun (mid-February to mid-March), is being marked today by organizing different programmes.    
The festival is observed as the New Year by the members of the Sherpa community who primarily reside in the mountainous region of Nepal. But the festival is marked in 22 districts in the country.    
The festival is celebrated with gaiety and much fun from the first day of the waxing moon to the full moon day. This festival is also celebrated by Mahayan Buddhists as their New Year.    
This festival is being observed since the time of the ninth king of Bhot, Uday Gungyal. The festival is also termed as Gyalbo Lhosar, according to researcher Tika Sherpa.    
On this occasion, people of the Sherpa community clean up their houses and villages, sources of water and flutter new prayers flag in the roof of their houses. They cook delicacies such as Guthuk and Khapse and exchange best wishes with each other to welcome the New Year.    
The Gurung community marks its New Year on Paush 15 (December end)) as the Tamu Lhosar while the Tamang community observe as Sonam Lhosar on the day of Magh Shukla Pratipada (first day of the waxing moon in the month of January). -- RSS