Kathmandu: The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) celebrated the Gyalpo Lhosar festival on Wednesday with a special program held at Sifal Chaur in Kathmandu.
The event marked the traditional New Year of the Sherpa community. Speaking at the program, NEFIN Chairperson Gelje Lama Sherpa said that attendance was lower than expected due to a long-standing Sherpa tradition of staying indoors on the day of Gyalpo Lhosar.
“Today, according to Sherpa tradition, people do not leave their homes. They perform पूजा (prayers), receive blessings from elders, and share special festive meals with family members. That is why participation in the program was lower,” he said.
Sherpa also informed that the Prime Minister was unable to attend the event due to the prevailing challenging situation in the country.
Referring to the upcoming election scheduled for Falgun 21, he urged unity among Indigenous communities. He cautioned that if Indigenous candidates compete against each other, it could create opportunities for others to secure victory. He called on one Indigenous candidate to step back when necessary to support another for the greater collective interest.
