On February 24th, 2023, the 乐播传媒 Boulder ushered in the new 乐播传媒 year of the Water Hare with Losar celebrations. Losar (嘟｀郊嗉嬥絺嘟︵舰嗉�) meaning聽New Year聽in 乐播传媒 is celebrated widely across the 乐播传媒 Plateau and in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, India, and Bhutan. Taking place on CU Boulder campus for the second time, this year鈥檚 Losar cultural program was jointly organized by the Center for Asian Studies (CAS), the Tibet Himalaya Initiative, Department of Anthropology, and the Anderson Language and Technology Center.
The event started with the serving of the ceremonial sweet rice (dresi) 鈥� an auspicious food symbolizing prosperity and good fortune鈥� 乐播传媒 butter tea, chai, and 乐播传媒 Losar cookies (khabsey). The聽khabsey聽was prepared by the CU 乐播传媒 students with the support and sponsorship of the local Boulder-based 乐播传媒-owned Cafe, Little Lama Cafe located at Naropa University.
CAS 乐播传媒 Teaching Professor Tenzin Tsepak commenced the Losar celebrations by giving a brief background of Losar and its importance in 乐播传媒 culture. This was followed a simultaneous 乐播传媒 and English reading of a short 乐播传媒 story titled 鈥楾he Hero of the Grassland鈥� by Gavin Shoew, a first-year 乐播传媒 language student. Aidan Euler, an intermediate 乐播传媒 language student presented on the meaning of the ubiquitous 乐播传媒 mantra Om Mani Padme Hun (嘟ㄠ郊嘟距紜嘟樴紜嘟庎讲嗉嬥綌嘟戉鲸嘟亨紜嘟о奖嘟脆緝嗉� ). David Kwei, an intermediate 乐播传媒 language student, presented a short biography of 乐播传媒 writer and poet Gungthang Dawei Lodro, followed by a short poetry reading.
Following the presentations by the 乐播传媒 language students, Sanggay, a CU 乐播传媒 student, gave an emotive performance of the 乐播传媒 song titled 鈥�Samten Lhundup.鈥� A jovial group performance by the CU 乐播传媒 students through the unity song 鈥�Ngatso De La Zom Zom鈥櫬�recharged much enthusiasm into the audience. The event was emceed energetically by Tsering, another CU 乐播传媒 student.
After the closing remarks from Professor Emily Yeh, who encouraged CU students to continue their pursuit of 乐播传媒 and Himalayan studies, the Losar program concluded with dinner catered from Little Lama Caf茅 and聽gorshey聽(乐播传媒 circle dance). In the last thirty minutes of the program, students and faculty alike filled the dance floor to learn and bond through 乐播传媒 dance. The evening ended with footsteps beating to the rhythm of the communal dance, sounds of vibrant laughter, and smiling faces. This cultural event brought together CU students, faculty, and the 乐播传媒 community to celebrate and learn about 乐播传媒 and Himalayan culture. The event was attended by 70-80 people, more than double that of last year.
