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Situated in the eastern Himalayas, Sikkim is one of the most beautiful states of India. The Sikkim festival are celebrated with a lkot of pomp and show and as per the Buddhist calender. Throughout this festivals people take part in lively danes and music.
Saga Dawa is an amazing Buddhist festival celebrated on the full moon day in Tibetean lunar month between May and June. On this sacred day people visit the monasteries, offer prayers, water, incense sticks and butter lamps. The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha. Losoong is celebrated at the end of the harvest season. Locals wearing brightly coloured masks, playing fascinating musical instruments perform Chaam dance. Archery contest is also held along with feasting and other celebrations. Tibetean New Year, Losar is marked with immense joy, extensive meals and merriment. It is usually held in February.
Tihaar is the festival of light. It is somewhat like Diwali.
• Lossong celebrated all over Sikkim marks the end of the harvest season at the end of the tenth month of the Tibetan Year. • Taking cue from a good harvest and praying for even better prospects for the next crop, the festival is marked by religious masked dances in Enchey Monastery. • The dances symbolize the exorcizing of the evil spirits and the welcoming of the good spirits for the new year. • Lossong has now become an important festival where visitors from all the world can get to see the local sporting events like archery, climbing of greased pole. • Local cuisine, handicrafts, floriculture and cultural programmes are some of the added attractions during the festival. • The festival is organized by Tribal Youth Association of Gangtok.
Loosong / Namsoong
Lho means year or age and Sar means new or fresh. The word Lhosar means New Year or beginning of new era. Tamang community celebrates their new year on the first day of new moon or in other words the very next day after the no-moon day of month of Magh. This year it is 2848th year of Tamang‟s New Year celebration. The Tibetan calendar is made up of twelve lunar months and Losar begins on the first day of the first month.
Sonam Losar - 17th January
It is the Tibetan New year and is marked with a lot of gaiety and festivity across the State. Losar cum Tourist Festival, Lama Amden Gumpa, Daramdin.
Losar - 16th February
The Daramdin area, West Sikkim is embarking on a new journey of development with village tourism as their main focus in mind. The festival is celebrated at the Anden Woolung Gumpa premises with much fanfare. The theme of the festival is embarking into a new journey of sustainable tourism development – towards peace & prosperity.
February
The Bhumchu which takes place on the 14th and 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calander, is one of Sikkim's most intriguing festivals. The water contained in the sacred Bhumpa or vase is measured into 21 cups of equal measure. The level of water is studied to divine the fortunes of Sikkim for the next year. Devotees from Nepal, Bhutan and the neighboring hills all come for blessings.
Bhumchu at Tashiding Monastery, Tashiding , West Sikkim - 1st – 2nd March
This is one of the most auspicious festivals of Sikkim and is observed in the honor of Lord Rama. The grand celebrations commemorate the birth of the virtuous king Rama who is universally adored for his flourishing and righteous sovereignty. People from all over the state gather together to celebrate this festival with much excitement and vigor. Also known as Chaitey Dasain it is also celebrated as tourist festival. Devotees flock towards Tendong Hill, South Sikkim for offering prayers.
Ram Nawami (Chaitey Dasain) - 26th March
Located at a height of 5100 ft, Aritar is surrounded by lush green forest, lakes and paddy fields. The entire Khanchendzonga range can be viewed from this place. Aritar offers adventure sports, nature trails. Lampokhari is one of the serene lakes where one can enjoy boating. Added attractions are Aritar Monastery, Mankhim Dara, Phusray Lake, Pango Lakha and Rachela.
Lampokhari Paryatan Mahotsav, Aritar - March
Organised to herald the spring season and the Nepali New Year. Cultural programme, traditional customs, local cusinies and other local activities can be experienced.
Baisakhi Festival, Makha Tumin -Lingee - April
Sakewa is celebrated with great fervor by all the Kirat Khambu Rai community. Also known as Bhumi/ Chandi Puja or land worshipping ceremony it is celebrated all over the State. It is celebrated at that time of the year when cranes migrate to the Northern Hemisphere this indicates sowing season of cucumber, pumpkin and other kharif crops. The festival begins with Shakrti Puja at Mangkhim (temple) performed by a Chief Priest (Mangpa) for good harvest followed by the Shova Yatra. Various traditional dishes like Wachipa, Bongchipa, Arakha Hengmawa, Baksa and Okrukma are served.
Sakewa 29th April
Full moon day of the 4th month in the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, around end of May and early June. Saga Dawa is a very important festival for the Buddhists. This day is considered to be the holiest of the holy Buddhist Festival. On this day Lord Buddha took birth, achieved Enlightenment.
Saga Dawa - 29th May
A cultural festival organised to celebrate the birth anniversary of the Nepali poet, Bhanu Bhakta Acharya. Competitions for school children are organised in various field such as poetry, drama etc. Other programmes include cultural parade and culture programmes.
Bhanu Jayanti - 13th July
This festival celebrates Lord Buddha's first preaching of the Four Noble Truths to his first five disciples at Saranath. The festival is held on the 4th day of the 6th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Prayers are conducted in the main monastery.
Drukpa Tshechi - 16th July
“Guru Thrunkar Tshechu is celebrated as the birth day of Guru Padmasambhava, reverentially referred as „Guru Rimpoche‟ in Eastern Himalayan region and Sikkim in particular. Guru Rimpoche is revered and worshipped as guardian saint in Sikkim who blessed this land as „Bayul Dremojong‟ (hidden valley of rice) and transmitted tantric Buddhism in the region adjoined by Bhutan and Tibet in the 8th Century AD. Among the galaxy of Buddhist monks, Arahats and Rimpoches, the prominence of Guru Padmasambhava as the principal associate and disciple of Lord Buddha stands out. It was his prominence that transformed this land into predominantly a Buddhist land. Guru Padmasambhava is not only revered by Buddhist but is held in high regard by the Sikkimese across all faiths.
Guru Rinpoche‟s Thrunkar Tshechu - 22nd July
Tendong Lho Rum Faat is one of the oldest festivals of indigenous Lepchas. The festival is related with a legend of deluge. The indigenous Lepchas residing in the Himalayan belt had earlier named each and every mountain, hills, rivers, valleys and ravines which was known as Nye Mayel Lang Some of these mountains and rivers, hills and ravines have not only carried beautiful and romantic folk lore but historical significance as well. These mountains and valleys figure prominently in their local myths and folklores.
Tendong Lho Rum Faat - 8th August
Every year Pang Lhabsol is celebrated at Rabong, South Sikkim. Pang Lhabsol, a festival unique to Sikkim is celebrated to offer thanks to Mt Khanchendzonga, the Guardian Deity of Sikkim and to Yabdu, the Supreme Commander. Rabong is now emerging as one of the important Buddhist Pilgrimage Destinations. Situated at the base of Maenam Hill, a sub-divisional headquarter and transit point for beautiful spots such as Chozo Lake, Ralong Monastery, Manilakhang Sakyamuni Cultural and Pilgrimage Centre and various tourist destinations of South Sikkim, Base Camp for trekkers to Maenam Hill and Borong Hot Spring. A trek down to the sacred lake “Shar Chok Bhepu”, one of the four holiest caves in Sikkim, would be a memorable experience.
Pang Lhabsol - 26th August
“Bhadauria Purnima Festival” which was revived by the Tsomgo Pokhari Samrakshan Samiti (TPSS) in 2013 after a hiatus of many years is celebrated with zeal and vigour at the premises of of one of Sikkim‟s best tourist spot that is Tsomgo Lake. Jhakris or Faith Healers performs rituals around the lake, the faith healers moves around the lake chanting hymns and synchronizing their bodies to the rhythm of their musical instrument , creating a picture that leaves most tourists in awe.
Bhadauria Purnima Festival - Tsomgo Lake August on full moon day
This festival is celebrated in the state of Sikkim with as much pomp and show as that of the whole country. Dedicated completely to Lord Krishna this festival celebrates his birth with much adoration. The added attractions of this festival include raasleelas, kirtan, bhajan and various other local functions at various temples across the State.
Janmasthami - 3 rd September
World Tourism Day is one of the main events for the Department as well as tourism stake holders. Workshops and Seminars based on World Tourism Day theme as declared by the UNWTO is conducted. Stakeholders from all over the State are invited to participate and interact with each other. Tourism & Civil Aviation Department presents the State Tourism Awards of Excellence for those who excel in this field. This is done with the view to encourage those involved in tourism promotion for quality service.
World Tourism Day, Gangtok - 27th September
Indrajatra is an important religious festival celebrated with pomp and fanfare by the Newar community in Sikkim. It is belived that many centuries ago, Indra (king of Heaven)‟s mother needed specially scented flowers (Parijat). Indra looked for them but could not find them in heaven. Indra discovered Parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by people in the Valley. Indra‟s mother came searching for him and people were shocked to know what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colourful festivals of Nepal to him to calm down his anger.
Indrajatra - 23 rd September
Also known as Durga Puja, this fortnight long Hindu festival usually falls in the month of October. The festival symbolizes the victory of the Hindu Goddess Durga over evil. Barley seeds are sown in the soil on the first day of this festival and their growth foretells good harvest. A week later is “Phulpati “meaning the day of flowers, followed by Maha Astami and Kala Ratri and Navami. The 10th day of the festival is known as Vijay Dashmi and also marks the victory of Lord Rama over Ravana. During this day people smear their foreheads with colored rice and the barley sprouts, which was sown on the first day of Dasain, are picked and placed over the ears.
Dasain ( Durga Puja) - October
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