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BUDDHIST FESTIVALS:
Saga Dawa: This is the Triple Blessed Festival and is
considered as the holiest of the holy Buddhist Festivals. On this
day in different years of his life, Lord Buddha took birth,
achieved Enlightenment and passed away attaining Nirvana, three
important events celebrated in the festival of Saga Dawa.
This Three-Fold-Auspicious-Day falls on the full
moon day of the
4th month of
Buddhist lunar calendar
around the end of May and early June. The highlight of the day’s observation in
Gangtok is a
procession
carrying the Holy Books of the teachings of the Buddha from the
Tsuk-La-Khang Monastery
in the Palace around the town.
Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal to King Sudhodhna and
Queen Maha Maya of the Sakya Clan around 560 BC. He was named
Sidhartha and his parents took all the pains to make his life
comfortable and keep him ensconced from the miseries of the world.
At the age of twenty nine, realization dawned upon Prince
Siddhartha that all the worldly pleasures were transient and
unreal and that the ultimate truth lay elsewhere. He renounced the
world and after wandering for many years in search of the truth
reached Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh (India), where he meditated under
the Bodhi trees and attained Enlightenment at the age of thirty
five. Buddha, the Enlightened One, left for his heavenly abode at
the age of eighty one at Kusinara on attaining Nirvana or
deliverance into bliss.
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Lhabab Dhuechen: This festival symbolises the Descent of Buddha
from the heaven of the thirty three gods after visiting his
mother. Dhuechen means festivals, Lha means heaven and Bab means
descent.
Legends goes that Queen Maha Maya, the mother of Lord Buddha, did
not live long after his birth and took rebirth in Trayastrimsa or
the heaven of the thirty Gods. After attaining Enlightenment, Lord
Buddha through spiritual powers came to know about the whereabouts
of his mother and at the age of forty one ascended to the heavens
along with thousands of his followers. Lord Buddha stayed in
heaven for three months during which he delivered sermons to his
mother and other celestial beings. Lord Buddha had left behind on
earth one of his disciples, Maudgalyayana, as his representative.
This disciple and other devotees of the Lord could not bear the
long separation and longed to hear his preaching, Maugalyayana,
who possessed miraculous powers, was exhorted to go up to the
heaven to request the Lord to return back to the earth. The gods
were not willing to let Lord Buddha return back to earth but
Maugalyana suggested that as the earthly beings did not have the
powers to visit heaven, the celestial being could come to the
earth to attend his preaching. Lord Buddha finally relented and
descended to the earth at a place called Sankasya along a triple
ladder that was prepared especially for the occasion by Viswakarma,
the God of Machines.
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Drukpa Tsheshi: This festival is observed by
the Buddhists to mark the event when Buddha first turned the Wheel
of Dharma (His first sermon to five disciples at Sarnath).
This festival celebrates Buddha's first
preaching of the four Noble Truths to his first five disciples in
a deer park at Sarnath. The first 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. The day falls on the fourth day (Teshi) of the sixth
Tibetan month (Drukpa).
This festival is held on the 4th day(Tsheshi) of the
6th month(Drukpa) of the
Tibetan Calendar around July or August every
year.. In Gangtok, Drupka Tsheshi is marked by
prayers at the Deer Park and at a secluded place called Muguthang
in extreme North Sikkim. The festival is celebrated by holding a
Yak race.
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Phang Lhabsol: This festival is unique to Sikkim. It was popularised by the third Chogyal of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal. In
this festival the snowy range of Khangchendzonga is worshipped for
its unifying powers. This festival also marks the signing of the treaty
of blood brotherhood between the Lepchas and Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and
Tetong Tek when the local deities were invoked to witness the
occasion.
In fact Phang means witness. 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 third Chogyal of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal
is credited for choreographing the Pang-Toed
dance performed by monks on this day.
This festival is held on the 15th day of the 7th
month around the end of August.
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Losoong: Losoong marks the end of the harvest season and
also the end of the tenth month of the Tibetan Year.
Taking cue from a good harvest and praying for even better
prospects for the next crop, the festival is marked by
Chaam
dancing's at the monasteries at Palace (Tsu-La-Khang), Phodong and
Rumtek. The dances symbolize the exorcizing of the evil spirits of
the year and the welcoming of the good spirit of the new year.
It is best observed in rural Sikkim.
Archery competitions and festivities mark the event. Men
become gods during the dances and don attires with mystical
symbols.
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Losar:
The Tibetan New Year is shared also by the
Sikkimese and marked with lot of gaiety and festivity. It
falls normally in the month of February.The Tibetan
youth take to the streets on the day performing the Yak dance and
throwing sampa as a way of greeting and welcoming the new year
with shouts of "Tashi Delek". The Tibetan community exerts itself
in the more than week long festivity with their brocades, jewelry, songs, dances and picnics.
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Bumchu:
Bum means "pot or vase" and chu
means "water". This festival is celebrated at the
monastery at Tashiding in the month of January or February. During
the festival, the pot containing the Holy water is opened by the
lamas of the monastery. The level of water in the pot foretells
the future for the forthcoming year. If the water is to the brim,
it foretells a year in which peace and prosperity will prevail. If
the water is over the brim and is spilling signifies a year with
natural disaster and flood , it prophesies bloodshed and
disturbances. If the water lever is low or almost dry it signifies
famine. A part of the holy water is distributed amongst the
gathering of devotes and the pot is replenished with river water
and sealed at the end of the festival to be opened only in the
next Bumchu...more
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Guru Rimpoche's
Trungkar Tshechu: On this day, Sikkimese Buddhist pay homage to
the master who first blessed Sikkim as holy land, Guru Rimpoche.
The master is believed to have firmly establish Buddhism in
Sikkim and introduce his form of Tantric Buddhism to the
Himalayas after vanquishing ‘demons’ obstructing the growth of
dharma in Tibet. The day commemorates his victory over these demons
and the devout believe that virtues accrued by recitation of
mantras on this day are two-fold.
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Kagyed
Dance: It is performed on the 28th and 29th
day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Calendar, around
December. This dance is performed symbolizing the destruction of
the evil forces and hoping for peace and prosperity to flourish in
every Sikkimese home. The dancers of this is extremely
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popular Chaam are always monks who are
accompanied liturgical music and chanting. The solemn nature
of the dance is interspersed with comic relief provided by the
jesters. Kagyed dances enact various themes from the Buddhist
mythology and culminate with the burning of effigies made of
flour, wood and paper. |
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Kalchakra Puja: A mention of the two bodies of Buddhism, Hinayana and Mahayana has been made at the beginning of this
chapter. To attain Nirvana or Enlightenment and freedom from
suffering one of the paths offered is Tantrayana which emphasizes
the Tantric or mystic aspect of Buddhism involving complex and
esoteric rituals.
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HINDU FESTIVALS:
Dasain / Dusshera/
Durga Puja:
One of the most important festivals for the Nepalese Hindus, this fortnight long festival usually falls in
the month of October.
While Hindus around the world celebrate Durga Puja, the Nepalese
observe the days as Dasain or Bijaya Dashmi.
This festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil.
It is widely believed that on this day the evil Mahisura was slain by Goddess Durga who is the embodiment of
Goodness and Shakti, in a fierce duel fight.
On the first day barley seeds are sown in the soil and
their growth a few inches foretells a good harvest. The next
important day, a week later is Fulpati meaning the "day of
flowers". Maha Astami and Kala Ratri follow Fulpati. The next
day is 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 coloured rice and the
barley sprouts which were sown on the first day of Dasain are
picked and place over the ears.
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Tihar or Tyohar/ Diwali: This
festival of lights also know as the Deepavali means "a row of
lights".
This festival is celebrated to mark the return of Lord Rama, his
consort Sita and brother Lakshmana, to their kingdom after 14
years of exile. To celebrate their return, the people of Ayodhya
are believed to have lit up their houses and streets with lamps
and the tradition is followed till date. People also conduct
Lakshmi Puja to please the Goddess of Wealth.
It falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik
(October-November). For some it is a three-day festival.
In Sikkim the festival honours certain animals on successive days. The first day known as
"Kak(crow) 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(dog) Tihar", dogs are garlanded. On
the third day the cows are honored with garlands and their horns
are painted in bright colors. It is the turn of the bullocks on
the fourth day.
The fifth day is also known as Bhai Tika in which brothers visit
the homes of their sisters and they apply tikas vermilion to each
other foreheads. It is also an occasion for exchanging gifts.
During Tihar, traditional carols called Bailo or Deusi are sung.
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Saraswati Puja: This festival falls in the month of January and
honors the Hindu Goddess of knowledge "Saraswati".
School children place their study books in front of the statue and
seek blessings for doing well in their studies.
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Janmastami: Also
known as Krishnastami or Gokulastami is a festival dedicated to
Lord Sri Krishna and commemorates his birth. This festival
occurs on the eight day (Astami) of a lunar fortnight hence the
name (Krishna+astami). Krishnastami which comes sometime in August
is celebrated over two days. The first
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day is called Kalastami or more popularly Janmastami. |
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This festival associated with Lord
Krishna’s birthday and is a combination of religion and
celebration together. Mathura, the ancient north Indian town,
is Krishna’s birthplace, and it is one of the most sacred
places in the entire country. People celebrate this festival
with fun, frolic, and merrymaking. The raasleelas, bhajan,
kirtan, and various local functions are the special
attractions of the place.
The festival of Janmashtami is celebrated
during the month of August or September depending on the
Indian calendar. The celebration of this festival is followed
according to the Indian calendar and hence the month in the
English calendar varies every year. This day also falls on the
day of Shravan Poornima when the monsoon season is at its high
in most of the part of India. |
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Vishwa Karma Puja: This festival takes place on 17th September every year
and honour Vishwa Karma - the God of Machines, statues of this
deity are put up in temporary sheds called pandals and worshipped
especially by those who are involved in handling machines like
drivers and mechanics.
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Maghe Sankranti :
One of the important festivals of Hindus, Maghe Sankranti known as Makar
sankranti in
other parts of India is
celebrated on the first day of the month of Magh (of the Vikram
Sambhat calendar) and is observed for three days. This day is
believed by the Nepalese as the day that marks the division of the Winter
and Summer solstice. It marks the beginning of the
lengthening of days.
Bathing in rivers, especially in the
confluence of rivers, is prescribed for this day followed by feasting. Huge fairs are
organized along the river banks and confluence of rivers. The
prayers begin with dawn and the fairs draw people from surrounding
areas in thousands. It is an occasion for villagers to
gather, meet each other and make purchases.
The most colourful introduction to the
Sikkimese milieu as people from all communities patronize these
fairs. Although just about every district has its fair, the bigger
ones are seen at Jorethang (south Sikkim) and Saramsa (East
Sikkim).
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Holi:
This Hindu festival of colors takes on a new meaning
in the colder climes of Sikkim. All night revelry, songs and
dances brings the business community (which is largely Hindu) to
the streets and also observed is the (Matki) competition in the
heart of the town. A good example of the communal harmony
prevalent in Sikkim as even the ethnic Bhutias and Lepchas can be
seen scrambling with their Hindu friends to take a crack at the
pot hung high in the air.
The festival of Holi symbolizes the victory of good over evil. It
also marks the advent of spring and people celebrate it joyously
with a splash of color. It is the most boisterous of all Hindu
festivals, observed all over India, especially the North. It
heralds the end of winter and the beginning of spring. People throw colored water with pichkaari (a traditional
device to spray coloured water), gubbare (balloons filled with
coloured water) and gulal (colour powder) at each other and make
merry. Singing and dancing add to the gaiety of the occasion.
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Ramnavami (Chaite Dasain):
This festival is
dedicated to the memory of Lord Rama. It occurs on the ninth day (navami).
The festival commemorates the birth of Rama who is remembered for
his prosperous and righteous reign.
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Other Festivals:
Namsoong: An Indigenous festival of Lepchas. It is
celebrated as a mark of welcoming the new year which begins from
the first day of first month (Kurnyit Lavo) of the year which
continues for seven days. It is celebrated all over Sikkim, Darjeeling district, Ilam
of Nepal and some parts of Bhutan...more
Sakewa:
Festivals of the Rai community. The day is observed with offerings of a variety
of sweets and food grains to the deity of food and wealth, Kubera.
Bhanu Jayanti: The Nepalese poet, Adhikavi
Bhanu Bhakta, enjoys a demi-God status in these areas and his
birth anniversary is marked with processions, poetry recitations,
and seminars. Bhanu Bhakta was the first Nepalese to
translate the Hindu holy book, Ramayana, into a Nepali version.
Tendong Lho-Rum-Faat: This
Lepcha festival is
observed by the Lepchas to pay obeisance to the Tendong Hill which
saved their tribe from annihilation in the great flood.
Teyongsi Srijunga Sawan Tognam:
Christmas:
Tamu Lochar:
Nyempa Guzom:
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