Losar
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Losar
Losar in Ladakh
Fainting fervour of Losar in Ladakh
By Kunzang Sukman, Monday, December 24, 2012
Leh: As the tenth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar stepped into the Himalayan kingdom of Ladakh, the people welcomed the New year with all their hearts. Whereas the ‘smells of culture’ that detonated softly in our memory like poignant land mines ‘hidden somewhere’ fainted, as the growl of cars and loud speakers, tainted with blending of so called modern album songs overwhelmed the peace.
Likewise, the charm of ‘Losar’ also seemed to be slowly fading away in the cores i.e villages of Ladakh. Only few villages like Hemis-Shukpachan, Skurbuchan, Chushot and Basgo were holding this culture enabling to retain their century’s old traditional Losar celebration cherished by all.
Nevertheless, as the weeklong Ladakhi Losar (New Year) celebration came to conclusion, many villages marked the day by organizing spectacular culture shows. Amid the traditional fervour and gaiety, the unique blend of a traditional extravaganza made us realise the importance of cultural diversity, bringing us back to our roots.
At a distance of about 40 km from Leh is situated a village called Basgo. Rendering me to revive the memories of childhood, I once again encountered the joy that remained bid hidden since years. The zeal amongst the folks after watching Lhamo Yogi, Apo-Apey, Karok and Lhardak made me realise the ecstasy of the traditions and ponder over the ‘swift change’ in the way of Losar celebration in Ladakh.
Apart from entertaining the spectators through their dance and other skills, these pair of Apo-Apey and others artists performed the traditional ritual and other duties which believed to bring peace, prosperity and harmony in the village.
Declaring the end of Losar, a ‘Storma’ made of barley and butter was thrown in the river Indus after which these artist takes bath in the freezing River and their folks and villagers waits for them with hot tea and new clothes.
As a ritual (practiced since reign of kings and queens) in Basgo; the aftermath of the ‘storma’ ceremony follows, as these artists take part in the horse racing! People resolute to make the new year ‘much prosperous’ and hail that the bad omens and luck vanished with the storma’s disposal paving way to a flash new start.
One could clearly make out that, even the youths of this small cold desert have sturdy hold of their roots. They believe in these customs and traditions, as a young Basgo Sarpanch, Stanzin Gurmet claims, “We are proud to be able to retain the century’s old tradition which their forefather had been carrying out till date and assure that we would not let it fade away in years to come”.
Observing the culture and encountering the memories of past, these words of Vimala Thakar ceased my mind that, “All our lives we are engaged in preserving our experiences and keeping them fresh by artificially sprinkling the water of memory over them. They have ceased to retain their original smell and fragrance.”
The effort at the preservation of a phantom freshness is indeed something that is withered and gone. It is better to practice it from the core because what we sow is what we get. The scenario of the celebration in my village ‘Nimmo’ just a kilometre away from Basgo, was shattering these rumbled thoughts of mine. It is the time to revive this fainting fervour of Losar, for one day even this sprinkle won’t help!
(Excerpts given by Murup Stanzin)
