Places of Interest

A famed Journalist, Dehmond Doig has written " It is a moving experience to see a Lama, dressed in the impressive mask and brocades of the God Khang - Chendzod - Nnga. Prance & whirl against the background of the mountain. So might Gods of classical Greece have danced upon Olympus".

There is a traditional way to celebrate the harvest by ceremonial drinking of ‘Chang’ offered to visitors by these courteous people.

On this day Lord Buddha took birth, achieved enlightenment and attained Nirvana. These are the 3 important events, which are celebrated in this festival. This festival takes place on a full moon day of the 4th month of Buddhist calendar in the end of May or early June.

Here, "Lha" means "Heaven" and "Bab" means "Descent". This festival symbolizes the descent of Lord Buddha from the Heaven.

It is a very famous festival of Sikkim and falls on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month i.e, around August. On this day Buddha first preached the four "Noble Truths" to his first five disciples in the Deer Park at Sarnath. At Gangtok this day is marked by prayers at a secluded place called Muguthang in extreme North Sikkim, followed by a Yak race.

Lossar is a Tibetan ‘New Year', which is marked with lot of gaiety & festivals in the month of February.

Bunchu

This festival is celebrated at Tashiding, in the month of January - February. Here, Lamas of the monastery open the pot containing holy water.