Darjeeling, Oct. 20: Over the past few years, Dashain celebrations have become a bone of contention in the Tamang community.

This year, too, two rival organisations claiming to represent the community have locked horns over the issue of whether the predominantly-Buddhist Tamangs should celebrate the festival.

The All India Buddhist Tamang Association has asked its members and followers to stop celebrating the festival, while its rival, Tamang Boudh Gedung, has wished community members a happy Dashain.

The association has put up posters asking Tamangs to distance themselves from ?a purely Hindu festival?. This is said to be a move to negate the influence of the Boudh Gedung, which had hung festoons across the town wishing members of the community on the occasion.

M.S. Bomzom, the president of the association, said: ?We found that the gedung has put up festoons. Since this may misguide our community members and misinform them, we decided to counter it by putting up posters explaining our stand.

The association believes the Tamang community of Nepalese society is Buddhist and should not celebrate Dashain.

?We have our own festival, which is called Sonam Lochar. It is distinct from the Tibetan festival Loshar. We should celebrate this festival,? said Bomzom.

The association has also encouraged wearing the traditional ethnic dress of the community known as the khanju and called for a boycott of Hindu traditions like wearing sindoor.

Boudha Gedung members, however, dismissed the idea that Dashain was alien to the Tamang ethos.

?We have been following the tradition of celebrating Dashain since ages. No one should tell the community what to do. In a secular and multicultural society, everyone should feel free to celebrate any festival,? said Asok Moktan, the gedung?s cultural secretary.