Gyalpo Losar: Celebrate the Sherpa New Year During Your Everest Base Camp Trek The Sherpa New Year, Gyalpo Losar, typically falls in January or February. It is the most significant as it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar year, time of renewal, family reunions, and spiritual reflection. The Gyalpo losar is celebrated in the entire Khumbu region, including monasteries in Namche, Pangboche, and Tengboche. For travelers, this festival offers a rare glimpse into Sherpa culture. It blends ancient Buddhist rituals, lively dances, and warm hospitality against the backdrop of the snow-capped Himalayas. The main celebrations of the Dumji Festival unfold over the first three days, with festivities lasting up to 15 days in some communities. On the first day, villagers enjoy a traditional Sherpa beverage, “changkol”, a warm, mildly alcoholic drink similar to Chhaang, made from fermented grains. The second day marks the celebration of Gyalpo Losar, the Sherpa New Year, observed with prayers, rituals, and joy. Families and friends gather for a festive communal feast on the third day, sharing traditional dishes in a spirit of gratitude and togetherness. Preparation Families thoroughly clean their homes two days before Losar to sweep away misfortune and make room for good luck in the new year. Special rituals are performed to drive out negative spirits from the previous year. On this day, households prepare Guthuk, a traditional noodle soup made with nine ingredients and hidden symbolic items, each representing different personality traits or fortunes. This is a playful and reflective family tradition. New Year's Day On the morning of Losar, families rise before dawn to collect the sacred “first water” from local springs, believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead. Special foods are prepared, including khapse (deep-fried pastries) and dresil (sweet rice with butter and raisins), which symbolize prosperity and happiness. Elders are honored with white ceremonial scarves called khata, as a gesture of respect and blessings. Throughout the day, villages come alive with traditional Sherpa dances and music. At the same time, chang (a local millet beer) is joyfully shared among family, friends, and neighbors, strengthening community bonds. Religious Observances As part of the Losar celebrations, prayer flag ceremonies are held. Old, weathered flags are respectfully taken down and replaced with vibrant new ones, symbolizing the renewal of hope and blessings. Families visit local monasteries to offer butter lamps, incense, and donations, and participate in communal prayers led by monks. These rituals are deeply rooted in the wish for prosperity, good health, and good fortune in the coming year. During Losar, the normally quiet villages of the Khumbu region burst into life with colorful decorations, festive music, and the warm hospitality for which the Sherpa people are known.