14 Famous Sikkim Festivals You Must Attend In 2022
Travel
·8 min read

14 Famous Sikkim Festivals You Must Attend In 2022

14 Famous Sikkim Festivals You Must Attend In 2022

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Sikkim is known to have breathtaking glaciers, various flowers and beautiful scenery, making it a top tourist destination. But did you know that the state is also known for its festivals? Yes! Sikkim festivals depict a fusion of elements of history, colour and vibrancy that make these festive moments unforgettable. Also, the whole ceremony, ceremony and things to do during these festivals make it a spectacle that one should not miss while on vacation.

Without further ado, check out the Sikkim festivals mentioned in this article that will help you plan your holiday. continue reading!

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Sikkim Famous Festivals You Must Experience:

We all know that Sikkim is a special tourist destination and the Sikkim festival is the most important. Check out the details of many of the festivals mentioned in this article that will help you enjoy the state’s traditions and culture.

1. Sikkim Losar Festival – Tibetan New Year:

The Losar Festival in Sikkim is one of the most well-known festivals in Sikkim. Losar, which translates to New Year in English, is a Tibetan word. The festival celebrates the hard work and patience of farmers as it coincides with the end of the harvest season. The festival combines the harvest and land of the local community and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. Tibetan Buddhists living in this beautiful state have a special meaning for the Losar Festival. Another significance of this festival is that the locals serve a mixture of roasted barley flour and butter on the altar in their homes.

  • Main Attractions: Folk song and dance performances, evening parades and cooking of various specialties.
  • when: February.
  • Where: Rumtek Temple and Phodong Temple.
  • Festival Duration: Five to fifteen days.

2. Sikkim Luzon Festival – Sikkim New Year:

Luzon is one of the most important festivals in Sikkim and marks the beginning of the Sikkim New Year. That’s why this holiday is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. Celebrations double as the festival coincides with the harvest season for the local community. You can taste many Sikkim delicacies and imagine traditional ceremonies, ceremonies and folk dances. Tourists from all over the country come to this place and they are curious about the culture and traditions of the area. The date of Luo Song Festival is based on the Tibetan lunar calendar, which changes every year.

  • Main Attractions: Chaam dancing at the monastery.
  • when: December.
  • Where: Phodong and Rumtek monasteries.
  • Festival Duration: 4 days.

3. Sikkim Drupka Teshi Festival:

Drupka Teshi is another amazing Sikkim festival celebrated by Buddhists in the state. The festival is celebrated around August, which is the fourth day of the sixth month in the Tibetan calendar. According to historical records, the Buddha taught his first Four Noble Truths to five of his disciples in Sarnath. Therefore, the festival is lively celebrated. It is also believed that the Buddha turned the “wheel of Dharma” for the first time. Yak races are also held during the festival every year.

  • Main Attractions: Yak race.
  • when: July and August.
  • Where: Mugudang.
  • Festival Duration: one day.

4. Saga Dawa – The biggest festival in Sikkim:

One of the famous festivals in Sikkim is the Saga Dawa festival which celebrates the birth of the Buddha. This day is also important for those who follow Mahayana Buddhism. This festival helps you understand the basic principles of Buddhist tourists and travelers. During these festivals, Buddhist monks light butter lamps in monasteries. It is believed to be the monk’s way of paying homage to the Buddha.

  • Main Attractions: The monks make glittering ghee lamps that look very attractive.
  • when: June.
  • Where: Various monasteries.
  • Festival Duration: one day.

5. Maghe Sankranti – Sikkim Cultural Festival:

Maghe Sankranthi marks the warmer weather in the state and is one of the most famous cultural festivals in Sikkim. The norm on this day is to take a dip at the confluence of the sacred Teesta and Ranjit rivers. Jorethang Maghe mela is one of the biggest bazaars in the carnival. Many local customs, traditions and beliefs are associated with this holiday with religious and spiritual significance.

  • Main Attractions: Food stalls where you can witness the traditions and rituals of the local culture.
  • when: January.
  • Where: throughout the state.
  • Festival Duration: one day.

Read: Is Sikkim good for a honeymoon?

6. Sonam Lhosar – a famous festival in Sikkim:

Sonam Lhosar is one of the famous festivals in Sikkim, celebrated by the Tamang community. The festival marks the beginning of the Tibetan New Year, and rituals associated with the festival are enthusiastically celebrated by the community. The masked man gets rid of all negative energies and evil spirits by dancing to the rhythm of Damphu. Men and women wear traditional and colorful clothing. During this period, the exotic Tamang cuisine is pleasing to the eye.

  • Main Attractions: Masked lamas perform Damphu dances and melodiously sing a Tamang folk song called Tamang Selo.
  • when: Jan Feb.
  • Where: Abbeys and Homes.
  • Festival Duration: Five to fifteen days.

7. Chaite Dashain – Ramnavami Festival in Sikkim:

Chaite Dashain is the most important festival in Sikkim. On this occasion, Lord Rama is fondly remembered. During this festival, locals and tourists enjoy parties and festive meals. If you want to enjoy the festival, you can plan a holiday between March and April. Chaite Dashain is one of the main festivals in Sikkim.

  • Main Attractions: Joyous celebrations take place in all the temples. Delicious holiday meals are prepared and served.
  • when: March or April.
  • Where: throughout the state.
  • Festival Duration: two days.

8. Sikkim Tendong Lho Rum Faat Festival:

One of the oldest and most important festivals in Sikkim is Tendong Lho Rum Faat. This festival celebrates Mount Tengdong, which protects the ancestors of the local Lepcha tribe from flash floods lasting 40 days and 40 nights. While the main ceremonies and ceremonies take place in Namchi, grand celebrations are celebrated throughout the state. The highlight of the festival is the trek to the mountain from Ravangla. Plan a vacation this festive season and experience an adrenaline rush on the go.

  • Main Attractions: With breathtaking views of the Lavanla Mountains, this festival is all about adventure.
  • when: August.
  • Where: Tengdong Mountain.
  • Festival Duration: three days.

9. Dussehra – Major festivals in Sikkim:

Dussehra is one of the main festivals of the Hindu Nepalese community in Sikkim. The festival is celebrated in October in the same way that the rest of the country celebrates Dussehra. From the first to the ninth day, Goddess Durga is celebrated and some ceremonies are performed. For example, on the tenth day, elders bless the young and bless them by applying tika. In addition, elders give gifts or cash as blessings to young people.

  • Main Attractions: Different manifestations of Maa Durga are worshipped.
  • when: October.
  • Where: throughout the state.
  • Festival Duration: Five days.

10. Tihar – Sikkim Diwali:

Tihar is a popular Sikkim festival known as Diwali in other parts of the country. The occasion took an unusual path and told us many of the state’s cultural stories. The festival is celebrated for five days, and throughout the festival, each day is associated with something special.

For example, the raven is sacrificed on the first day of the festival, which is considered a symbol of sorrow and grief. Doga is praised on the second day of the festivities and offers garlands and tilak, called Kukkar Tihar. Some of the most important animals in Hindu mythology are honored every day.

  • Main Attractions: Celebrating with the animals is a sight to behold, crows are worshipped and several kinds of sweets are offered.
  • when: October to November.
  • Where: throughout the state.
  • Festival Duration: Five days.

11. Bhumchu Festival in Sikkim:

Bhumchu is translated as a holy jug of water, and the same representation can be seen in festivals and rituals. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and performance, with a special emphasis on traditions and rituals, similar to other Sikkim festivals. On the first day of the festival, monks at Tashtin Monastery open sacred water bottles. This vase is used to generate forecasts and the future of the coming year. The jars are then refilled with water from the nearby Holy River and sealed for opening next year at the closing ceremony the next day. During this great time, you can gain insight into Buddhism and its customs and rituals.

  • Main Attractions: Sacred rituals are performed on the first day of the festival.
  • when: February March.
  • Where: Tashtin Temple.
  • Festival Duration: two days.

12. Indra Jatra Sikkim Festival:

Indra Jatra is a Sikkim festival celebrated by the Nepalese community in Sikkim. The festival is celebrated with great fanfare throughout the country and it is named after the Hindu god of rain, Lord Indra. During this festival, locals and tourists seek the blessing of rain in the form of showers and rain. During this festival, you can see many masked classical dance performances and a huge parade of chariots.

  • Main Attractions: Huge chariot parade, classical dance performances.
  • when: September.
  • Where: Gangtok.
  • Festival Duration: eight days.

13. International Flower Festival:

Sikkim’s International Flower Festival is celebrated at Whitehall in Gangtok, starting in May. The event showcased a vast array of retail garden products from different regions of India, as well as the best floral and landscape talent. Sikkim’s Flower Festival attracts locals and tourists alike with its delightful variety of flowers. After the flower show, local delicacies are served and cherished during the food festival.

  • Main Attractions: Beautiful floral landscape, display of various herbal products.
  • when: possible.
  • Where: Gangtok.
  • Festival Duration: a month.

14. Sikkim Paraglider Festival:

There are many places in Sikkim that offer paragliders for both locals and tourists. However, during the annual Sikkim Paragliding Festival in Gangtok in October and November, you can visit Sikkim and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and pleasant weather for the best paragliding experience. Plus, the festival’s wide range of fun activities makes your time worthwhile. The Paragliding Adventure Sports Association of Sikkim and the Paragliding Association of India, in conjunction with the Sikkim Tourism Industry, organized the festival with the participation of many Indian and international pilots. Free flight, tandem flight, fixed landing and arco shows are some of the main festivals, and many cultural programs are the highlights of this paragliding festival.

  • Main Attractions: View of the valley, paragliding.
  • when: October to November.
  • Where: East Sikkim near Gangtok.
  • Festival Duration: Four days.

While some festivals are celebrated under different names across the country, some Sikkim festivals are unique to the state. Browse the list of festivals in Sikkim mentioned in this article that will help you understand the history and culture of the state. If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are the popular foods in Sikkim?

answer: Some of the most popular foods in Sikkim are Thupka, a noodle-based vegetable or meat soup, and Momo, another popular food in the state.

2. What are the popular tourist attractions in Sikkim?

answer: If you want to witness the beauty of Sikkim, you can visit numerous tourist attractions. Some of the popular attractions for sightseeing in Sikkim are:

  • Sogo Lake.
  • Nassura…