The Gurung people also known as Tamu, are an indigenous ethnic group native to the foothills of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges in central-western Nepal. Believed to have migrated from the Himalayas they possess a distinct language and a syncretic religious identity that blends Bon Shamanism, Buddhism, and local animistic traditions. They are globally recognized for their martial history as Gurkha soldiers, serving with high distinction in British, Indian, and Nepali armies, while the modern community remains highly influential in Nepal’s tourism, agriculture, and global fashion industries.

Their most vibrant cultural anchor, Tamu Lhosar, is the annual New Year festival celebrated on the 15th of Poush (December end) to mark the start of the Tamu Sambat. In the Gurung language, "Lho" represents the year and "Sar" signifies change, reflecting a transition in the traditional 12-year animal cycle known as Lohokar.

For this 2025 celebration, the community is bidding farewell to the :Year of the Snake" and welcoming the "Year of the Horse". The festivities are a grand display of Nepal’s cultural richness, with families visiting monasteries to seek blessings and organizing get togethers.

Grand gathering us also organized at Kathmandu’s Tundikhel with most in traditional attire—men wearing the iconic bhangra and kachhad, while women wear velvet gunyo-cholo and gold ornaments. 

Anchored by traditional Ghatu and Sorathi dances and shared treats like sel roti and khapse, these celebrations allow elders to pass down their unique history and way of life to future generations.