Sherpa families gathered on Sunday in Boulder to celebrate their new year known as Gyaplo Lhosar.
Participants marked the occasion with the Syabru dance, which is specific to the Sherpa communities in the Himalayan region, according to Sunanda Dangol, Nepali culture promoter and founder of Nepali Jatra.
Men and women dance in a line or a circular pattern while wearing ethnic clothing and singing traditional folk songs.
Chubas, or long robes with wide sleeves, and aprons with intricate designs were worn by those in attendance. And women wore traditional ornaments such as necklaces, bracelets and earrings of silver, turquoise and coral. These pieces of jewelry also are symbols of family heritage and Sherpa tradition that represent the history and legacy of one’s ancestors, Dangol said.
“The best part of the gathering was to see young Sherpas participate and perform with a lot of enthusiasm at the festival,” Dangol said. “ … it brings me great joy to see people genuinely interested and enthusiastic about the events or cultures and heritage.”
Sherpa Nangpi Tsogpa Colorado hosted the event. The nonprofit organization ‘aims to preserve the culture and heritage of the Sherpa community by providing opportunities for younger generations to learn about their cultural roots, by building a sense of community and belonging and by promoting cultural diversity and understanding through events open to the wider public,” Dangol said.
Sherpa Nangpi Tsogpa Colorado Secretary Nima Sherpa announced a five-year plan to build a monastery in Colorado. So far, members of the group have invested $150,000 towards the construction.
