Across Wagga, the growing Tibetan community is busy preparing food for a two-week-long celebration of the new year.
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Losar is the most important festival on the Tibetan calendar, with tomorrow beginning three major days of celebration followed by nearly two weeks of festivities including gift-giving and plenty of Tibetan food.
This year's Losar, the 2148 Metal Ox year, happens to coincide with the Lunar New Year tomorrow despite the two being separate events.
Wagga Tibetan community member Sonam Lhamo said her family was busy cleaning and decorating the house, and families across the community would have spend much of the week cooking and preparing their traditional dress for the occasion.
This year, the community is inviting Wagga to join them at a festival on Saturday evening.
A Wagga council grant has brought popular, Grammy nominated musician Tenzin Choegyal from Queensland to perform at the event.
The Lake Albert Hall will play host to music, dance and a Tibetan dinner from 5pm to 9.30pm.
Sonam said the event was "like Christmas" for her community, and the whole of Tibet would stop to celebrate.
While it is quieter in Wagga, she said the community was grateful and happy they had the chance to keep their traditions alive.
"I think this is really important to show our culture to the Australian people," she said.
"All Wagga people are most welcome to join with us."
She said the community wished the people of Wagga "tashi delek," a greeting conveying wishes of prosperity.
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