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Tibetans forgo Losar celebrations, will only do pujas

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

Tibetan National FlagTibetan National Flag

The Dalai Lama will attend a puja ceremony at Tsugla Khang temple to mark the first day of Losar, the Tibetan New Year, of the Male Iron Tiger year of 2137 on Sunday. The celebratory mood has been subdued after the Tibetan government-in-exile issued a notice saying that due to the tense situation in Tibet, and messages of no Losar celebrations in Tibet, festive activities may not be observed.

After a brief hype about a grand celebration of Losar on 14 February, Tibetans in and out are now forgoing Losar celebrations. Only the puja part of the most important Tibetan holiday will be observed.

Tibetans rose up against Chinese rule in some of the biggest demonstrations since March 2008 in Tibet. China cracked down on the protests with armed forces leaving more than 200 dead.

The prime minister’s office of the Tibetan government-in-exile issued a notice asking its employees to restrain from celebration of Losar.

There were conflicting feelings about this year’s Losar. Before the notice came out, some people were asking to have a grand celebration of this most important Tibetan holiday. Even the facebook profile images of many Tibetans and their supporters was that of a design saying: “Losar, because I love Tibet” and “Losar: because I am Tibetan”.

Members of the Tibetan Youth Congress also urged a low-key Losar.

Students For a Free Tibet will launch a “Raise Our Flag” campaign on the first day of Losar by distributing 500 Tibetan national flags. Tibetans and supporters will be urged to raise the flags to mark the beginning of the year of the Iron Tiger; citing a time for change, hope and action to express a renewed commitment and solidarity towards the Tibetan movement.

“The National Flag is a symbol of freedom and resistance. Hundreds of national flags were defiantly flown throughout Tibet in the 2008 uprisings to amplify the people’s call for freedom. The flag unifies all the Tibetans in our desire to help bring about change in Tibet,” said Tenzin Choeying, National Director of Students for a Free Tibet, India.

The modern Tibetan national flag was adopted in 1916. Its first appearance before the world was in National Geographic Magazine’s “Flags of the World” issue of 1934.

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