|  Home : Events and Festivals : Festival | 
		
			|  | Festivals Of Sikkim |  | 
		
			|  | Saga Dawa : 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 and 
				passed away attaining Nirvana. Phang Lhabsol This festival is 
				held on the 15th day of the 7th month around the end of August. 
				This festival is unique to Sikkim. Popularized by the 3rd 
				Chogyal (king) of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal, this festival marks 
				the signing of the treaty of brotherhood between the Lepchas and 
				the Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and Tetong Tek when the local deities 
				and the snowy ranges of Khanchendzonga are worshiped. The lamas 
				portraying the guardian deity perform colorful masked dances. 
				Jesters called ‘Atchars ‘ lighten the mood of the spectators, 
				who come in hordes to witness this festival. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | Losoong : Losoong 
			marks the end of the harvest season and also the end of  the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar year, around the end of 
			December. Chaam dances are performed at the Palace (Tsuklakhang ), 
			Phodong and Rumtek monasteries. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | Losar : It is the 
			Tibetan New year and is marked with a lot of gaiety an  d 
			festivity. It falls normally in the month of February. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | 
                     
						 Dasain 
			: 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. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  |   
               Tihar 
				: Tihar is the “Festival of Light “ and symbolizes the 
				return of Lord Ram to his hometown from exile after victory over Ravana and covers a period of five days. The festival honors 
				certain animals on successive days. The first days known as a 
				“Kak Tihar is dedicated to crows and they are offered rice and 
				some if caught are even garlanded. On the second day, which is 
				known as “Kukkur Tihar”, dogs are garlanded. On the third day 
				the cows are honored with garland and their horns are painted in 
				bright colours. It is the turn of bullocks on the fourth day. 
				Deepali, which falls on the third day is considered to be the 
				most important day when goddess Lakshmi comes visiting every 
				home which is lit bright with candles and electric lights. The 
				fifth day is also known as Bhai Tika in which brothers visit the 
				home of sisters and they apply tikas vermilion to each other’s 
				forehead. It is also an occasion for exchanging gifts. During 
				Tihar, traditional carols called Bailo or Deusi are sung. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | Magh Sakranti : This festival 
				falls in the month of January and marks the lengthening of days. 
				Fetes are held on banks of the confluence of rivers. This is one 
				festival were people from all walks of life attend. |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  |   
                Gutor Cham : Gutor Cham is 
				performed two days prior to Losar or the Tibetan New Year, this 
				Cham or dance depicts the battle between good and the evil and 
				the ritualised destruction of evil. Bhumchu at Tashiding 
				
				   |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | 
                 Bhumchu 
				at Tashiding : The Bhumchu which takes palce on the 14th 
				and 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan lunar 
				calander,around February-March ,is one of Sikkim's most 
				intriguing festivals. The water contained in the sacred Phumba 
				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 neighbouring hills all 
			come for blessings |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | Drukpa Tseshi : 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.  |  | 
		
			|  |  |  | 
		
			|  | Tendong Lho Rum Faat : 
			On the8th of August, the Lepachas worship Mount Tendong which they 
			believe saved their race from destruction by a great flood. While 
			the Lepcha 'Bongthings' or priests worship Mt. Tendong in South 
			Sikkim, the Lepchas in Gangtok take part in day long cultural and 
			literary programmers in their traditional costumes  |  | 
		
			|  |  |  |