Fairs & Festivals of Sikkim

All important festivals of India are celebrated in Sikkim with great fervour. Apart from these there are some regional festivals of Sikkim which include Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu that are celebrated by Buddhist religious communities. Losar – the Tibetan New Year in mid-December is an important festival of the state when most of the government offices and tourist centres are closed for a week.

Apart from biodiversity, Sikkim is also rich in its tradition and culture. There are many fairs and festivals which are celebrated in the state with much pomp and gaiety, Many festivals of this state are celebrated according to the Buddhist calendar. People wear traditional attire, colorful masks and celebrate their festival in the rhythm of musical instruments. Some important festivals of Sikkim are:-

Saga Dawa

Saga Dawa is the triple blessed festival for the Mahayana Buddhist people in Sikkim. On this day people pray and offers butter lamps in the monasteries. Saga Dawa is included by three day event. They are the birth of Buddha, enlighten taken by Buddha and death of Buddha. It is celebrated on the full moon day of Buddhist lunar calendar.

Phang Lhbsol

Phang Lhbsol is the unique festival in Sikkim. In this festival people worship Mount Kangchenjunnga for its unifying power. On this festival the guardian deity is portrayed as a fiery red face deity with a crown of five skulls and riding a snow lion. Pang-Toed dance and spectacular warrior dances are also performed by the monks in the festival.

Bumchu

Bumchu is another remarkable festival in Sikkim which is celebrated at the Tashiding monastery in West Sikkim. The term ‘Bum’ means pot and ‘Chu’ means water respectively. On this day, a pot of holy water is opened by the lamas in the monasteries. A part of the water is distributed among the devotees. The water level of the pot foretells the future of the community.

Losoong

Losoong is celebrated at the end of the harvest season in rural Sikkim. The Chaam dance is performed in this festival, which remarks the victory of the good spirits over the evil spirits. Along with dance, archery competitions also organized in the festival.

Dasain

The Nepali communities of Sikkim celebrate Dasain festival. This festival remarks the victory of good spirits over evil spirits. The elder person of a family applies Tika on the young and blesses them in the festival.

Drupka Teshi

The Buddhist community of Sikkim celebrates the Drupka Teshi festival. This festival is celebrated on the day, when Buddha received his four noble truths. Drupka Teshi is celebrated on the Teshi day of Drupka month of Tibetan calendar. Along with prayers, a yak race is also organized in the festival.

Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival

Hee Bermiok is an annual festival held in Hee Bermoik city which is located very near to Gangtok. It started in the year 2005 and since then thousands of people come to the city to witness this amazing carnival. The festival is held in the month of May every year.

Crafts festival of Rabongla

A peaceful place in Sikkim, Rabongla is situated at a height of 7000 feet and is one of the most scenic tourist locations in Sikkim. Grand celebrations marks the festival which is celebrated in April.

Tharpu Monsoon Festival

Organized during the monsoon season in Sikkim, the Tharpu festival is held every year in the month of August. It is a traditional and cultural festival in Tharpu, western part of Sikkim.

Lhabab Duchen

One of the major Buddhist festivals in Sikkim, Lhabab Duchen is held on the 22nd day of the 9th calendar month of Tibet.

Namchi Mahotsav

A vibrant and colorful festival held in Sikkim which lasts for one week in Sikkim is one of the major festivals held in Sikkim. It attracts thousands of tourists and locals and people enjoy to the utmost in this festival.