Losar is the Tibetan New Year and one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tibetan Buddhist communities in India and across the Himalayan region. The word Losar means "New Year" in Tibetan, with Lo meaning year and Sar meaning new. The festival marks the beginning of a new lunar year and is traditionally a time for spiritual purification, welcoming prosperity and leaving behind the negativity of the previous year. Preparations often begin several days before the New Year, with homes cleaned and decorated, special foods prepared and religious offerings arranged. Families gather to perform prayers, visit monasteries, exchange greetings and share festive meals. Monasteries hold elaborate ceremonies featuring traditional music, masked Cham dances, prayers and religious rituals. Losar is celebrated with different customs among Tibetan, Ladakhi, Sherpa, Monpa and other Himalayan communities, giving each region its own distinctive traditions. In India, major celebrations can be experienced in Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Tibetan settlements, where the festival combines religious devotion with vibrant Himalayan culture.