Bomdila celebrates Losar festival; Shapawang Poi today

A CORRESPONDENT

BOMDILA: People in hundreds joined the 'Losar' festival celebration with much fanfare and enthusiasm held at Thubchog Gatselling Monastery and Gontse Gaden Rabgyeling Monastery here on Friday.

Extending greeting on the occasion, Administrator of Monastery Geshe Passang informed that Losar is a New Year celebration for the Monpa tribe and holiday is a new year's festival, which corresponds to a date in February or March in the Gregorian calendar.

"In 2021, the New Year commenced on the 12th of February and celebrations ran until the 27th of the same month. It is also considered as the Year of the Metal Ox New Year," added Passang.

He said that aside from the regular ritual, people make offerings to the god like smoke offerings, prayers at Monasteries for the well being of the families and society.

"Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days. On the first day of Losar, a beverage called Changkol is made from Chaang. The second day of Losar is known as King's Losar (gyalpo losar)," he added.

GOVERNOR WISHES ON EVE OF SHAPAWNG POI: Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (retd) Dr B.D. Mishra on Saturday extended his wishes to the Singpho community on the eve of Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi, to be celebrated on Sunday. "On this propitious occasion, I pray to Shapawng Yawng to bless each one of us with peace, progress, prosperity and safety against COVID-19," said the Governor in his message.

According to Singpho mythology, Singphos are the descendents of Shapawng Yawng, who was one of the six brothers, first born on the earth and called himself as "Singpho". Tingli Yawang, son of Shapwng Yawng, in order to get blessings from his father and the creator of 'Mathum Matha,' the world, performed the first Manau poi by offering a prayer to Bhikan Gundan Poi, the Almighty. Later, the festival came to be known as Shapawang Yawng Manau Poi in the memory of their ancestor Shapawng Yawng. Shapawng Yawng Manau Poi, with its ritualistic ceremony and dances, cultural programmes, community feasts, and literary activities has become a medium of preservation of heritage.

Also Read: Losar Festival: The New Year Festival of The Monpa Tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

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