THE SNOW LION NEWSLETTER

A PERENNIAL QUESTION
By Patrick Sommerville

The Tibetan holiday of Losar is again upon us and confusion reigns. While most of the world celebrates the New Year on January first, Tibetans patiently wait their turn, arriving this year on February 6 (Western calendar time). For the Tibetans this is an auspicious year: the Year of the Dragon. For the Occident, a monumental one: The new millenium.

Every year at about this time, inquisitive truth seekers like myself grow uneasily confused as the question inevitably arises: When is Losar? This question is generally easy enough for people to answer, provided one isn't inquiring about a date more than a year into the future. This year it falls on February 6. Last year it was February 17. Some years it's in March. It just depends.

Years ago I finally asked, "Exactly what does the timing of Losar depend on?" Little did I know, this question would become the source of great adventure and intrigue as I traveled to the far reaches of the globe to find its answer.

First, after making some inquiries, I traveled to the capital of Mongolia, called Ulaanbaatar. I'd been told that Mongolia shared the same religion, food, and calendar as Tibet, so I thought it a good place to start. After being there for just a matter of weeks I met a very intelligent man who had studied in Russia, named Bulgantamir. I thought a man with such a fine Communist education would be a good resource, so I asked him to my place for dinner. After a full meal and copious amounts of vodka, I posed the question: "So, why is Losar celebrated at different times each year?" With a confident smile, Bulgantamir replied, "That's easy. It's because Losar is the first day of spring. The first day of spring is different every year so of course, Losar too will be different every year." Unable to argue with such logic, but still unsatisfied, my search continued.

Resolving never to ask a Communist this question again, some months later I visited the ivory towers of the Mongolian National University. "Hey, what's your business?" a woman at the front desk unceremoniously screamed over to me. "I've come to find out why Losar is sometimes celebrated in February and other times in March." The young woman grimaced knowingly, as if all unwelcome tourists asked her this question. Indicating that she could be of some assistance, "That's easy!" she exclaimed. "It's because of the alignment of the sun and the moon in relation to the earth. Then on some years Jupiter influences the pattern of some stars and that changes the date a little. Also the magnetic pull of the gravity plays a role. And then some wise men in the government make a final decision." "Thank you," I replied, as I ran for the door. Lesson learned: To answer an age-old questions one must consult age-old persons.

About a year later, restless and weary, I arrived at the foot of Dashchoinkhorlin Monastary in Bulgan Province, Mongolia, begging for some water. The five-hour hike had sapped all my strength. "No water, but I've got some milk tea," offered the friendly Lama. "I'll put some extra salt in it for you if you'd like." Lurching for the tea, "No thanks," I replied. After drinking down the tea, I requested the audience of the senior Lama. Within minutes he appeared. As his chiseled face and stoic manner suggested wisdom, my anticipation rose. "I've come to ask you one simple question," I declared in nervous tone. "Why is Losar sometimes in February and other times in March, but never at the same time?" With head in hand, the wise Lama reflected. Minutes passed. Finally he looked up. Fixing his eyes on my own, he said: "That's easy. It's because of the Kalachakra Tantra." Too embarrassed to reveal my ignorance of the Tantra to this man of such obvious importance, I dejectedly exited the monastary, setting off on the long journey home.

With head hung low, I arrived back in New York to be greeted by a Tibetan friend. Immediately sensing my frustration, he said, "You didn't find it, did you?" "No," I replied. "Well my friend, I thought this would happen so just a few days ago I got on the internet and downloaded some information for you." Explaining the calendars, the text read as follows:

The Occidental calendar, found in practical use throughout the world, is based on the earth's rotation around the sun. A day is the average time required for one rotation of the earth on its axis. The measurement of a year is based on one revolution of the earth around the sun and is called a solar year. This solar year takes 365 days.

The Tibetan calendar is actually solar and lunar-based. The month is counted by the position of the moon, and the year is counted by the position of the sun. For one lunar year, consisting of twelve lunar months, there are 354 or 355 days. Because this is ten or eleven days short of a 365 day solar year, an extra month is put in every third year anywhere among the twelve months that is considered auspicious for that year. In accordance with the Kalachakra Tantra the full moon and the new moon should fall on the 15th and 30th day of the month. To maintain such consistency some days must be added and others negated within any particular month. Such added and skipped days are based on how auspicious or inauspicious a particular day may be. Nonetheless, one month is always thirty days, with the exception of the one month of the one year that may be 354 days long. Just before the end of each year a new calendar for the next year is determined in this manner by the Tibetan State Astrologer. It is worth noting that although the Tibetan and Han calendars are both solar/lunar-based, they differ in their placement of the leap month and determination of skipped and added days of the month.

Lesson learned: For answers to questions regarding Tibet, just ask a Tibetan.

Patrick Sommerville is a freelance writer and photographer currently pursuing graduate studies at New York University. From 1996 to 1998 he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia and has visited Tibet. Article ©2000 by Patrick Sommerville