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Festivals in Sikkim

Festivals in Sikkim are inevitably entwined with the Buddhist calendar. Each festival is a ceremony of masked dances, drum beats and colourful costumes. Each one is also a very community affair, even if it has its origins in the ritual-cycle of a particular monastery. Should you wish to watch any of these performances, we could always organize special passes for you. Here’s a list of the most popular of Sikkim’s festivals.

Saga Dawa

According to the Mahayana Buddhists, Saga Dawa is the holiest of holy festivals, blessed thrice over since three important events of Buddha’s life – birth, enlightenment and the attaining of Nirvana - are celebrated together. Observed in a big way in Gangtok, this festival falls in May-June. Devotees in large numbers offer butter lamps in the monasteries and the monks carry the Buddhist Holy Books from the Tsuk-La-Khang monastery around the town in a large, colourful procession.

Drupa Teshi

The day Buddha first preached about the 4 Noble Truths to his 5 disciples at Sarnath is today celebrated in Sikkim as the Drukpa Teshi festival. Usually held in the months of July or August, it invokes special prayer sessions at the Deer Park and at Muguthang in North Sikkim. A special highlight of this festival is a yak race.

Phang Lhabsol

Third king of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal began this legacy of worshipping Mount Kanchendzonga for its unifying powers. Interestingly, it was during this festival that the treaty of blood brotherhood was signed between the Lepchas and Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and Tetong Tek, witnessed by the local deities. The festivities are marked by loud music and dance; a masked Lama with a crown of five skulls riding a snow lion dances as a fiery red-faced deity and jesters called 'Atchars' entertain the crowds during the Chaams. The Pang-Toed Dance and the spectacular Warrior Dance is a treat to look out for during this August festival.

Losar

This festival rings in the Tibetan New Year around February every year. It is the time for great merry-making and feasting. Guests are always most welcome.

Bumchu

A festival of the Tashiding monastery in the West Sikkim, Bumchu ('Bum' means pot or vase and 'Chu' means water) is the time when the Lamas open the pot of holy water. It is said that the level of water in the pot tells of future events to come; a full pot indicates bloodshed, a dry pot tells of famine, while a half pot predicts peace and prosperity. Devotees are blessed with a bit of the water and the after refilling; the pot is sealed for the next year.

Losoong

The harvest festival of Losoong is celebrated with great fanfare; you will get to watch Chaam dances at the Tsu-La-Khang, Phodong and Rumtek monasteries and archery competitions are special highlights of this event. There is plenty and more for those who love feasting and merry-making.

Dasain & Tihaar

Dasain is the main festival of the Hindu Nepalese in Sikkim and marks the victory of good over evil, while Tihaar is Sikkim’s Festival of Lights. The night is lit up with thousands of lamps and the air resounds with the traditional carolling called ‘Deusi’ and ‘Bhailo’.

What Our Client Says

  • "As tour manager of Joe Far Tours I want to thank you for the great services my group received during Oracle-festivals from March 11 - 20, 2011. We stayed in the best hotel of town with good central heating and excellent food and service, had new cars with friendly and helpful drivers and a very experienced local guide Tashi. Besides that you personally came to check everything! Your service even included a reserved area with chairs during festival, lunch and hot tea.

    Thanks again and I am looking forward to your services in Changthang in July 2011."

    Prof. Hans Först
    Executive Director-Tours
    Joe Far Tours/Vienna/Austria

  • "I arrived in Ladakh with only six precious days and no semblance of a plan. Odpal George and his team at Himalayan Safaris worked with me on short notice to set up a fantastic tour, including a 3-day trek from Likir to Lamayuru. Their service and local knowledge were top notch, and I assumed that their prices would be high -- but after checking around town with other tour operators, I realized they were right in line. I highly recommend working with Himalayan Safaris."

    Dan Fineman

  • Himalayan Safaris and Odpal George are excellent. They handled our Leh experience comprehensively, taking care of our every need, while remaining very flexible in ensuring we got the best experiences in spite of weather changes (it rained in Leh). Peter, the trek guide, was fantastic along the trek, chatty, knowledgeable about the trek area, the flora and fauna. He made good decisions on how to keep the trek experience high as the weather changed. Stenzin, our main guide at the gompas, was a fountain of knowledge. Even the drivers Egbol and Naxir, where efficient and courteous.

    Vincent Fabella

  • I wanted to take this opportunity to thanks you, your brother Peter and your staff for a delightful stay in Ladakh. It was a pleasure to get to know Tashi and we all enjoyed seeing the scenery, temples and towns of the region. I especially appreciated you and your company's flexibility in helping us with our changing plans.

    Finally, we so enjoyed our stay at your hotel in Sabu. The rooms were great and well designed. The food was wonderful and the staff was friendly and experienced. You and Peter have clearly put a lot of thought into it.

    We had a wonderful experience with you and would recommend it to anyone.

    Graydon Pleasants
    Real Estate Development