LOSAR 2025
Celebrating Losar
As February draws to a close, Tibetan Bön and Buddhist communities worldwide welcome the Tibetan New Year, known as Losar. This ancient celebration, deeply rooted in Tibetan culture and spirituality, offers practitioners and community members a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the past year while setting intentions for the one ahead.
Understanding Losar
Losar translates to “new year” in Tibetan and is traditionally celebrated over three days. The festivities begin with thorough preparations on the second-to-final day of the current year, known as Gu tor (February 27, 2025), followed by the main celebration, from February 28 through March 2, 2025 this year.
The preparation period holds significant cultural importance. Homes are thoroughly cleaned to symbolically remove obstacles from the previous year, creating space for new blessings and opportunities. This cleaning represents both physical purification and spiritual renewal.
For those living near a gompa (meditation hall), the first day of Losar involves visiting the temple to pay respects to the lama, circumambulating the sacred space, and making offerings. Tibetans traditionally bring flowers, butter lamps, or cookies for tea with the lama. In return, they receive blessings for success in all endeavors of the coming year. Many also raise prayer flags at their homes, sending prayers and good wishes into the world with each flutter in the wind.
The Significance of Losar Rituals
The rituals performed during Losar hold deep meaning for all Tibetan traditions. Two important aspects are: the Sang Chöd fire ritual, featured at several locations this year, which is a purification ceremony that cleanses negative energies and creates merit;. prayer flags raised during Losar carry mantras and prayers for peace, compassion, and wisdom into the world.
It is also a common practice to share traditional foods, particularly dresil (sweet rice with butter, nuts, and dried fruits), symbolizing the sweetness and abundance hoped for in the new year. Community gatherings strengthen connections among practitioners and create a collective energy of positivity and intention.
Ligmincha Programs Worldwide
This year, Ligmincha International and its centers across the globe have organized various events to celebrate Losar, making the tradition accessible to practitioners worldwide. Some of the events below are in person, some are online, and others are both in person and online.
For more information and additional events or updates, visit your local Ligmincha center’s website: https://ligmincha.org/countries/
United States
Ligmincha Texas
February 28, 2025, 7:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. CST
Ransom ceremony with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen – only in person
Details: https://ligminchatexas.org/event/ransom-ceremony-2025/
Ligmincha International
March 1, 2025, 1:00 p.m. EST
New Year wishes for the Sangha with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Tsering
Online on Facebook at www.facebook.com/tenzinwangyalrinpoche
Ligmincha Texas
March 1, 2025, 12:00 p.m. EST / 11:00 a.m. CST
Sang Chöd fire ritual in Galveston with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen – only in person
Details: https://ligminchatexas.org/event/sang-chod-smoke-offering-ceremony-2025/
Serenity Ridge Retreat Center
March 1, 2025
10:00 a.m. Sang Chӧd (smoke offering ritual), the raising of prayer flags
11:00 a.m. Tour, Socializing with Tea and Snacks
11:00 a.m. Bookstore will be open
12:00 noon Potluck Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Livestream with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Khandro Tsering Khymsar
Mexico
Ligmincha Mexico
March 1, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Yang Drub Ceremony with Lama Yungdrung Lodoe and Lama Kalsang Nyima
Available in-person and online in Spanish
Registration: https://forms.gle/76oQBTkYfRVqzszu9
Poland
Ligmincha Poland – Chamma Ling Center, Wilga
February 28 – March 2, 2025
Losar Tibetan New Year Rituals with Lama Sangye Monlam
In-person only
Details: https://ligmincha.pl/event/losar-2025/?event_date=2025-02-28
Ligmincha Poland – Poznań
March 2, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. CET
Losar Tibetan New Year Festival at Tram Driver’s House
In-person only
Details: https://ligmincha.pl/event/losarpoznan/?event_date=2025-03-02
Joining the Celebration
Whether you’re a long-time practitioner of Tibetan spiritual traditions or simply curious about this rich cultural celebration, Ligmincha centers worldwide offer accessible entry points to experience Losar. Some events are available online, allowing participation regardless of location, while in-person gatherings provide the full sensory experience of this vibrant tradition.
As we enter the Tibetan Wood Snake Year, may all beings find peace, prosperity, and spiritual growth in the months ahead. Tashi Delek!
International news
Winter Retreat Continues Experiential Transmission Dzogchen Series
The Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung is the centerpiece of Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s dzogchen teachings held every December at Serenity Ridge. This year, Rinpoche continues the third year of this five-year cycle. Attendance is possible both in person at Serenity Ridge and online via Zoom. The retreat begins on December 26 at 7 p.m. New York time and concludes around 2 p.m. on January 1, 2023.
The concise and essential practice manual of the Experiential Transmission, the Chag Tri, by the great adept Drugyalwa Yungdrung, provides complete instructions for those aspiring to the practice of dzogchen, the path of self-liberation.
In this year’s retreat, Rinpoche focuses on the aspects of view, meditation and conduct, building on Part 2 to further guide students toward recognizing their own inner clarity and integrating their realization into their practice and their lives. Practitioners will explore:
- How naked seeing is the dzogchen view and the self-introduction.
- How clear light is the meditation.
- How bringing every experience and challenge onto the path is the conduct.
Prerequisite: This retreat is open to those who have received the teachings for Parts 1 and 2 of the Experiential Transmission of Zhang Zhung from Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche either in this current teaching cycle or previously.
All in-person attendees must present proof of a negative Covid test result taken within 24 hours prior to arrival at Serenity Ridge. Attendees as asked to bring a second test with them to retest in the middle of the retreat. Serenity Ridge has placed additional hand sanitization stands in major foot-traffic areas, significantly expanded air quality by adding UV filtration throughout Kunzang Khang (the community building and cafeteria) and purchased outdoor space heaters to make outdoor dining comfortable.
Upcoming Ligmincha Learning Courses Include The Three Heart Mantras, Breath and Movement, Ngöndro and More
Ligmincha Learning is offering several online courses starting in February, March, April 2023. These online courses feature beautiful video teachings, guided meditations, readings, journal writing activities, and the opportunity to interact with senior mentors and classmates from around the world.
The Three Heart Mantras
February 24 – April 1, 2023
The Three Heart Mantras are used in many different meditations in the Bön tradition, and play a major role in the ngöndro practices. They are used for purification, protection, and as primary practices toward self-realization.
Meditation, Breath and Movement
March 3 – April 1, 2023
Tsa Lung is a series of ancient yogic practices that brings balance and harmony to our physical body, energy, and mind. These exercises are easy to perform and are beneficial for everyone.
Ngöndro: The Foundational Practices
March 4 – December 16, 2023
The ngöndro teachings are a set of nine practices that offer complete instructions for taming, purifying, and perfecting the suffering mind. They are considered to be the Foundational Practices for the entire tradition.
Sleep Yoga: The Yoga of Clear Light
March 17 – April 15, 2023
The course will introduce simple techniques to enter into sleep in a healthy, balanced way. Tenzin Rinpoche will also provide meditations to wake up in a beautiful way, feeling the blessings of sleep and stepping into our day with serenity.
The Five Elements, Healing with Form Energy and Light
March 31 – May 13, 2023
In this course Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche explores how each of the five elements relates to our daily experiences, emotions, and relationships. Rinpoche guides meditations for each of the elements, designed to help clear our obstacles and bring balance to our lives.
Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love
April 14 – May 13, 2023
In many cultures the primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and the source of all positive qualities. Sherap Chamma, Mother of Wisdom and Love, is the source of wisdom, and her medicine is love and compassion.
Free and ongoing courses also are offered.
Visit Ligmincha Learning to learn more.
Opening Your Heart to the World 3 Doors Retreat with Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Join Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, founder of The Three Doors, September 10–11 for a very special weekend retreat on Zoom. The 3 Doors is an international organization that offers meditation programs with opportunities to meditate in community and integrate meditation into your everyday life for the benefit of self and others. Everyone is welcome!
Rinpoche will guide participants to connect with the inner refuge of an open heart of wisdom and compassion during two full days of teaching. Practices will be guided by 3 Doors senior teachers Marcy Vaughn, Gabriel Rocco, Alejandro Chaoul and Raven Lee.
Within each one of us is a heart of compassion, our natural response in the presence of suffering. But often we are overwhelmed, saddened or burdened by the suffering we perceive in the world around us, and we may shut down or turn away. If we acknowledge how the pain of others touches us and are supported to open in the presence of our pain, from the openness itself we touch the source within, a source of compassion, and can respond to others in a beneficial way.
This retreat provides a unique opportunity to experience the 3 Doors practices as presented by the founder of the organization himself. In addition, opportunities will be provided for participants to deepen and reflect on their experiences through sharing and discussion in small groups.
Audio recordings of teachings and guided practices will be available for streaming and download shortly after the completion of the program.
Spanish, German, French and Hungarian translations available.
GlideWing Tibetan Sound Healing Begins August 10
The next GlideWing online workshop with Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, “Tibetan Sound Healing,” will be held August 10–September 1, 2019. With Rinpoche’s personal guidance you will learn to use the healing power of five sacred syllables known as the Five Warrior...
Ligmincha Learning’s Sherap Chamma Course with Marcy Vaughn Begins July 10
Ligmincha Learning's online course with Marcy Vaughn introduces the practices of Sherap Chamma, the Mother of Wisdom and Love. This four-week course runs from July 10–August 7, 2019. In many cultures the primordial female energy is seen as the origin of existence and...
Online ‘Healing from the Source’ with Tenzin Rinpoche Starts June 29
The next GlideWing online workshop, “Healing from the Source: Meditation as Medicine for Mind and Body” will be held June 29–July 21, 2019. Learn and practice from your own home, at your own schedule, with personal guidance from Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche.
His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche’s European Tour Schedule
We are pleased to present His Holiness the 34th Menri Trizin Rinpoche's complete European teaching tour of Europe. Rinpoche began his tour at the Tibetan Yungdrung Bön Study Center in London, United Kingdom on May 25th. He will continue to travel and teach throughout...
SA LE Ö MUSICAL OFFERING & BENEFIT PERFORMANCES
Sa Le Ö, a very special musical healing and meditation concert created under the guidance of Geshe Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, will tour the U.S. and Mexico in June 2019. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a meditation and healing experience using the...