Taktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan

Have a rest at the Tiger's Nest. Tibetan New Year

Welcome to the year 2152. That is, in the Tibetan calendar at least. Today marks the start of Losar, the new year festival celebrated in Tibetan Buddhism, which is observed in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal and parts of India. Losar celebrations run for 15 days, beginning the night before with a meal of guthuk—a traditional dumpling soup. The new year is rung in with an incense burning ceremony and visits to holy places to pray for good fortune in the year ahead. Today's image takes us to Taktsang Palphug, also known as the Tiger's Nest, a Buddhist monastery and holy site perched 3,048 metres above sea level in Bhutan. Built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave in 1692, it is where Guru Padmasambhava, who introduced Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan, meditated and taught his students.

Though it often coincides with the Chinese and Mongolian New Years, Losar boasts distinct traditions that predate both Indian and Chinese influences. This lively celebration is particularly cherished in regions such as Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where it is observed with great enthusiasm and cultural pride.