Fairs & Festival

Sikkimese festivals are held according to the Buddhist calendar so the months of the English calendar given are approximate. One of the most intriguing dance forms is the Chaams.These are ritual dances of the lamas, which feature colourful masks and quaint musical instruments and are held at various monasteries during the festivals.

January / February
Losoong (Sikkimese New Yearl. Full of joy and daaling festivity. Guthor Chasm is held at Rurntek Monastery two days before Losar.

February / March
Tashiding Bhumchu. The holy water Iconsecrated by Ngadak Sempa Chempo, one of the founders of Buddhism in Sikkimi is distributed to devotees. The water is believed to have curative properties.

June
Saga Dawa. The Triple Blessed Day is the holiest of Buddhist festivals. It was on this day that Lord Buddha was born, achieved Enlightenment and attained Nirvana. It is marked with a procession of holy books carried from the monastery in the palace, to various places in Gangtok town.

June
Tse-chhu Chham is held at Rurntek Monastery. It presents eight manifestations of Guru Padma- sambhava, fondly known as Guru Rimpoche. A mask dance shows episodes from his life and his fight against evil.

August
Drukpa Tsesh celebrates the first preaching of the four Noble Truths by Lord Buddha. Marked by day-long prayers and observed in all monasteries.

August / September
Pang Lhabsol, unique to Sikkim, celebrates its guardian deity, Khangchendzonga. Lamas portray the deity with fiery-red face-masks with a crown of five skulls, riding a snow-lion.

December
Kagyed Dance is performed at Enchey, Phensang, Phodong, Rurntekand Ratong Monasteries, two days before Losoong (Sikkimese New Year). The dance is a solemn affair with cosmic episodes in between. It symbolises exorcism of evil and ushering in of peace and prosperity.

Top