Festivals

As most Sikkimese festivals are held as per the Buddhist calendar. The most interesting spectacle one sees are ritual dances of the Lamas with quaint musical instruments and masks.

Losar :

Tibetan New Year, involves a lot of gaiety and festivity.

Saga Dawa :

Is a very auspicious day for the Mahayana Buddhists. On this day people go to monasteries to offer butter lamps and worship. A huge procession of monks goes around Gangtok with holy scriptures.

Phang Lhabsol :

Is a festival unique to Sikkim. It is celebrated to offer thanks to Mount Khanchenjunga, the guardian deity of Sikkim and to Yabdu, the supreme commander.

Kagyat Dance :

Is performed every 28th and 29th day of the Tibetan Calendar. The solemn nature of the dance is interspersed with comic relief provided by the jestures.

Dasain :

The biggest and most important festival of the Hindu Nepali population is

celebrated in September-October. It symbolizes the victory of good over evil.

Dipavali :

The festival of lights is celebrated 10 days after Dasain.

Buddhist Calendar :

With approximate months corresponding to the English calendar are given below :

Saga Dawa :Full moon of the 4th month, around end of May and early June.

Drukpa Tseshl :4th day of the 6th month, around August

Pang Lhabsol :15th day of the 7th month, around end of August-September

Kagyat Dance :28th& 29th day of 10th month, around December.

Losar :Tibetan New Year, around February.

Maghe Sankranti :Month of Magh, around January.

Dasain :Month of Aswin, September-October.

Enchey"Chaams" :18th& 19th days of the 11th month, around December-January.

Rumtek"Chamms" :Tse-Chu 'Chaams'- 10th day of the 5th month, around June.

Winter"Chaam" :(Guthor 'Chaam') 2 days prior to Losar.