Gangtok: A cultural tour
Gangtok is the largest and capital town of the Sikkim state of India. It homes a diverse ethnic group and hence the town celebrates a number of local festivals. The town is also integral to the Tibetan Buddhist culture. Following are some of the distinct regional festivals of the town.
Losoong
It is a new year festival in the entire Sikkim and is also a farmer’s prayer for good harvest. The remarkable feature of this festival is the Chaam (masked) dance performed at the monasteries.
When is Losoong festival celebrated?
Losoong fest usually falls at the end of December. According to Tibetan lunar calendar, it is celebrated on the 18th day of their 10th month.
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Saga Dawa
Saga Dawa is also known as the Triple Blessed festival. This festival commemorates the birth of Buddha according to the Buddhist lunar calendar.
On this festive day, the monks carry sculptures depicting the teachings of Lord Buddha on their heads and gather in the streets and Gompas (gompas are the Buddhist ecclesiastical fortifications of learning).
When is Saga Dawa festival celebrated?
According to the international calendar, this festival falls at the end of May or beginning of June. According to the Buddhist calendar, it is celebrated on the 4th full moon day.
Bhumchu
This is a festival that conveys the sustainability and the local’s concern for the environment. A huge vase is filled with water and kept for days in the Tibetan monasteries. On the night before the first full moon of the Tibetan calendar, the Lamas open the vase to the public.
The level of water in the vase and its level determines the cleanliness and availability of water for the upcoming year.
Apart from these festivals, the Indian festivals are celebrated in Gangtok with full charm, although their names and pattern of celebration differ here. For Example, Navratri is called as Dashain, Diwali as Tihar, and so on.
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If you wish to tour Sikkim, try to plan your trip during one of their traditional festivals. This way, along with the tour, you can experience a different celebration style. You can also book an intercity taxi to tour this wonderful city.
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