Sikkim's Special Rituals: Unique Traditions Found Nowhere Else

19  Dec, 2023

 Losar is the Tibetan New Year, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Sikkim, especially by the Tibetan community. The rituals associated with Losar include the making of intricate colorful designs called mandalas, traditional dance performances, and religious ceremonies.

Losar Festival

This is a unique festival in Sikkim that combines both religious and historical elements. It is dedicated to Mount Kanchenjunga, the guardian deity of Sikkim, and also honors the memory of the Lepcha leader, Khye Bumsa. The festival involves masked dances and the worship of the mountain deity.

Phang Lhabsol

This is a traditional Lepcha festival celebrated to seek the blessing of the deity of crops and grains. The Lepcha community performs rituals involving the worship of nature, singing folk songs, and offering prayers for a good harvest.

Nehul Saa

This festival is celebrated by the Lepcha community to express gratitude to Mount Tendong, which is considered a savior during times of natural calamities. The festival involves rituals performed on the Tendong Hill, seeking protection and well-being.

Tendong Lho Rum Faat

Celebrated by the Rai community in Sikkim, Sakewa is an agricultural festival. It involves rituals related to farming and is a way for the community to express gratitude to nature for a bountiful harvest.

Sakewa