KATHMANDU: The Gurung community is celebrating Tamu Lhosar across the country by organizing various programs today.

‘Lho’ means year and ‘Sar’ means change or new which together means New Year and ‘Tamu’ is another term for Gurung.

The festival is celebrated in Kathmandu and those districts including Lamjung, Gorkha, Syangja, Manang, Kaski, Parbat where the majority of Gurung community dwells.

The Gurung community, in the ancient time, had started counting the 12 months of the year by the names of animals. Mouse, Cow, Tiger, Cat, Parrot, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Bird, Dog and Deer are the names used to count the 12 months of the year.

On the occasion of Tamu Lhosar, the government has given a public holiday across the country.