India, Feb. 3 -- Assam and Mahayana Buddhism When discourse on Mahayana Buddhism in India takes place, Assam rarely finds entry into the discussion. The spotlight usually falls on Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, or Tamang settlements elsewhere. Yet, quietly and persistently, Mahayana Buddhist life continues to thrive in parts of Lower Assam-most vividly during the celebration of Sonam Losar, the Tibetan-Himalayan New Year.

Sonam Losar may not figure prominently in mainstream narratives of Indian Buddhism; in Lower Assam, it remains a deeply lived, communal, and joyful event. Its lively celebration reminds us that religious traditions do not survive only through grand institutions or scholarly recognition; they endure through community...