Festivals of Sikkim |
The fairs and
festivals in Sikkim are celebrated according to Buddhist
calendar. During these festivals the people of Sikkim perform
colorful dance and music. Chaam is one of the most interesting
form of ritual dance of the Lamas, which feature colorful
masks and charming musical instruments and are held at various
monasteries during the festivals. Costumed Lamas with gaily
painted masks, ceremonial swords and sparkling jewels, leap
and swing to the rhythm of drums, horns and music. Some of the
festivals which are celebrated in Sikkim are Losoong, Bumchu,
Saga Dawa and Phang Lhabsol.
|
|
|
Saga Dawa |
Saga Dawa is the
triple blessed festival. This festival is considered as one of
the holiest Buddhist festival for the Mahayana Buddhists. On
this day the people visit monasteries and worship and offer
butter lamps. Three
important events connected to the life of Buddha are
celebrated in this festival. These events are the Birth of
Lord Buddha, Enlightenment taken by Lord Buddha and death of
Lord Buddha or attaining Nirvana. This festival is celebrated
on the full moon day of the 4th month of Buddhist lunar
calendar around the end of May and early June. This festival
is celebrated in Gangtok. On this day the monks carry the Holy
Books of the Lord Buddha from the Tsuk-La-Khang monastery
around the town in a large procession. |
|
|
|
Drupka Teshi |
Drukpa Teshi
festival is celebrated by the Buddhists. This festival is
celebrated as on this day the Buddha preached his first sermon
of four Noble Truths to his five disciples at a deer park in
Sarnath. The first Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of suffering.
The Second Noble Truth is the truth of the origin of suffering
Karma and Delusion and their causes. The third Noble Truth is
the cessation of the suffering or the attainment of Nirvana. The
fourth Noble Truth is the truth of the Eight Fold Path leading
to Nirvana. This day is celebrated on the fourth day (Teshi) of
the sixth month (Drukpa) of the Tibetan calendar in the month of
July or August every year. This festival is celebrated in
Gangtok where the prayers are held at the Deer Park and at
Muguthang in extreme North Sikkim and a Yak race is also held
during the festival.
|
|
|
Phang Lhabsol |
|
The word Phang means witness. Phang Lhabsol is a
unique festival of Sikkim which was popularized by the third king of Sikkim, Chakdor
Namgyal. In this festival the Mount Kanchendzonga is
worshipped for its unifying powers. In this festival the
treaty of blood brotherhood was also signed between the
Lepchas and Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and Tetong Tek and the local
deities were also invited to witness the occasion. On this
day, the guardian deity is portrayed by masked Lama dances as
a fiery red-faced deity with a crown of five skulls, riding a
snow lion. To lighten the mood of the spectators, jesters
called 'Atchars' play antics during the Chaams. The monks also
performs the Pang-Toed dance on this day. This festival is
celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month around the end of
August.
|
|
|
Bumchu |
The Bumchu festival
is celebrated at the Tashiding monastery in the month of January. The word 'Bum' means pot or vase and 'Chu' means
water. During this festival, the pot that contains the Holy
water is opened by the Lamas of the monastery. A part of the
holy water is distributed amongst the devotees and the pot is
replenished with water and sealed at the end of the festival
which is opened only in the next Bumchu. The level of water in
the pot foretells the future for the forthcoming year. If the
water is up to the brim, it predicts that there would be
bloodshed and disturbances. If the pot is almost dry it
signifies famine and if it is half full, it predicts the year in
which peace and prosperity will be there.
|
|
|
|
The Kalchakra Puja |
Tantrayana is one of the path by which one can attain Nirvana or
Enlightenment. Tantrayana emphasizes on the Tantric or mystic
aspect of Buddhism and involves complex and esoteric rituals. The
Supreme Tantra is one of the class of Tantrayana which combines
male tantras and female tantras out of which Kalchakra is one of
the deities. The rituals and meditations which are performed to
Kalchakra with the main aim of attaining Nirvana is known as the
Kalchakra Puja. Presently, the Dalai Lama, holds the Kalchakra
Mass Initiation Puja usually once in three years which attracts
the devotees from all over the world. Kalchakra deity is usually
represented in union with his female consort Vishwamata. The
Kalchakra Puja centers around the ‘Mandala’ which consists of the
rituals, offerings and the deities concerned with the Puja. For
the initiation ceremony, the Dalai Lama first prepares the
disciple who have to take the tantric vows. The disciple is then
initiated in a complex procedure which includes rituals that
involves water, crown and the ubiquitous Vajra (Thunderbolt). Now
the disciple can practice the tantras diligently with the ultimate
aim to attain Nirvana.
|
|
|
Losoong |
The Losoong festival
is celebrated on the occasion of the end of the harvest season and
the end of the tenth month of the Tibetan Year in the rural Sikkim.
On this festival, the Chaam dances are performed at the
Tsu-La-Khang monastery, Phodong monastery and Rumtek monastery and
archery competitions are also held. This dance symbolize the
exorcizing of the evil spirits of the year and the welcoming of
the good spirit of the new year. During the dance the men become
gods and don attires with mystical symbols. |
|
|
Kagyed Dance |
|
The
Kagyed Dance is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the 10th
month of the Tibetan Calendar, in the month of December. This
dance symbolizes the destruction of the evil forces and prevailing
of the peace and prosperity in Sikkim. The Chaam dancers are
extremely popular. Chaams are the monks who are accompanied with
the liturgical music and chanting. Some sort of the comic relief
is also provided by the jesters with the dance. In this dance,
various themes from the Buddhist mythology are enacted and it
culminates with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and
paper.
|
|
|
|
|
Back |