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The Buddha Park - Hotspot For Tourists and Festivals

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The Buddha Park -Hotspot For Tourists and Festivals The Buddha Park of Ravangla, also known as Tathagata Tsal, is situated near Ravangla in South Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. It was constructed between 2006 and 2013, and features a 130-foot-high statue of the Buddha, erected to mark the 2550th anniversary of the birth of Gautama Buddha, as its main attraction. The site was chosen within the larger religious complex of Rabong Monastery, itself a centuries-old place of pilgrimage. Also nearby is Ralang Monastery, a key monastery in Tibetan Buddhism. Built and installed through the joint efforts of the government and people of Sikkim, the statue was consecrated in 25 March 2013 by the 14th Dalai Lama. The Buddhist circuit of the park was built under a state government project, intended to boost pilgrimage and tourism to the region. The Cho Djo lake is located within the complex, surrounded by forest. The park has a tranquil setting with spacious pathways, and there is a
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Indra Jatra - The Festival of Rain

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Indra Jatra - Festival of Rain Indra Jatra is the biggest festival for the Nepalese “newar” community in Sikkim and is celebrated with much fanfare throughout the state. Named after the Hindu God of Rain and also the King of Heaven, Lord Indra, the festival’s prime objective is to seek his blessings in the form of rains and showers.         Credits - Religionworld.in Duration of the festival The festival is celebrated around August-September and lasts for eight days, bringing the whole valley to life with vibrancy and mood of festivity all around. Cultural programs, chariot processions and masked dance performances representing various deities and demons, take everyone in awe of their hypnotizing splendour. Highlights of the Festival The festival’s most significant highlight is marked by a huge procession that is taken along the streets of Gangtok after performing various religious rituals at Bhanu Park. A number of masked dance performances including Pulu Kishi, Lakhey, Ma
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Bhumchu - 'The Pot Of Water' Festival

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Bhumchu - "Pot of Water" festival Bhumchu is a festival which is celebrated with tremendous fanfare in the entire state of Sikkim. The festival is believed to decide the fate of this beautiful North Eastern state of India in the upcoming new year and sees a footfall of thousands of tourists and devotees not only from the neighbouring towns but, also from across the bordering countries like Nepal and Bhutan. It is one of the most important and holiest festivals for all the Buddhists in Sikkim and around. Credits - indianholiday.com Celebrations in Sikkim The festival is celebrated for two days starting on the 14th day of the first month of Tibetan lunar calendar, which often falls in the months of February and March.  On the first day, the monks at the Tashiding Monastery open the sacred vase and predict the events for the coming year.  On the second day, amidst prayers and chants, the pot is re-filled from the water of sacred river nearby and again sealed until to
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Saga Dawa - The Poor's Day

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Saga Dawa  - The Poor's Day It is one of the most famous and biggest festivals of Sikkim. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year. It is most significant for the followers of Mayana Buddhism. Saga Dawa is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Lord Buddha. The festival is a visual treat of various religious ceremonies and street processions for the tourists and also the people living in Sikkim.                                 Credits - kipepeo.in Celebrations in Sikkim The marvelous carnival of Saga Dawa takes place every year on the full moon of the Bhuddhist lunar calendar. The devotees gather in large numbers on the streets of Gangtok to receive blessings and pay their gratitude to their lord. The biggest highlight of this festival is the lightening of butter lamps in monasteries, indicating their obeisance to Lord Buddha who is believed to have enlightened their paths in life. After the ceremony ends, a a grand pageant lead by monks carrying holy scripture
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Pang Lhabsol - Sikkim's Colourful Carnival

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Pang Lhabsol - Sikkim's Colourful Carnival Pang Lhabsol is one of the most popular regional and cultural festivals of Sikkim. It attracts countless tourists and visitors from across the nation and different parts of the world. The vibrant festival exudes a matchless aura of positivity and colours all around, bringing all the people of the state at a platform where they can just immerse their souls in celebrations and festivities.                                  Credits - travelshoebum.com The celebrations for Pang Lhabsol are held on the 15th day of the 7th month of Tibetan Lunar Calendar every year, which according to English Calendar, falls somewhere between the August-September timeframe. This festival is celebrated across Sikkim at different locations and monasteries. It is an extravagant carnival that is staged on the grounds of the Tsuklakhang Monastery in Gangtok. Both tourists and locals including Bhutias, Lepchas and Nepalis take part in the festivities with g
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Losar - The Tibetian New Year

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Losar - The Tibetian New Year Losar is one of the most important, if not the important festival of Sikkim. The Tibetan word “Losar” translates to “New Year” in English. The festival coincides with the end of the harvesting season, providing all the farmers the much-needed break to rejoice the fruits of their patience and hard work. It would not be incorrect to say that while Losar is a much-awaited event for the locals, it is also looked forward to with the same zeal by many cultural enthusiasts and photographers worldwide who are eagerly waiting to get a closer rendezvous with the vibrant culture and traditions of this little jewel of North East India.                                 Credits- Tour-India.com It is believed that in the earlier days, Losar was celebrated only as a winter ceremony. But, Gradually, with changes in Tibetan astrological methods and predictions, it started to be celebrated as a warm welcome to a new harvesting season and new year. This festival is
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Tihar - Sikkim's Glittering Diwali

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Tihar - Sikkim's Glittering Diwali One of the most popular and significant Hindu Festivals, Diwali is celebrated under the name of ‘Tihar’ in Sikkim and other parts of North East India.  The “festival of lights” covers the entire state in the veil of glittering lamps, offering people an opportunity to remove darkness not only from their homes but, also from their souls.                                 Credits - indiaeve.com It is celebrated all over Sikkim for 5 days. In those five days, people pay gratitude to the most significant animals in Hindu mythology. Day-Wise Celebration Day 1 ( Kaag Tihar ) - On the first day, crows which are the symbols of sorrow and sadness are worshipped and given sweets to avert grief and death from the homes. Day 2 ( Kukkar Tihar ) - This day is dedicated to dogs who own a special place in Hindu mythology. Day 3 ( Gai Tihar ) - This is the day of Deepavali. This day, cows are worshipped and the main celebrations of Diwali take place. D
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