Sikkim Festivals : Feast for the eyes

Sikkim’s buddhist festivals are worth seeing!!
THOUGH a small chunk of Sikkim’s population consists of Tibetans, many a Tibetan festival is celebrated across the state round the year. Saga Dawa, also known as the Triple Blessed Festival, is considered the holiest Buddhist festival. On this day, Lord Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and attained nirvana; and these three important events are celebrated during Saga Dawa.
The festival falls on a full moon in the fourth month of the Buddhist lunar calendar, which is between the end of May and the beginning of June in the Gregorian calendar.
Lhabab Dhuechen is a festival that symbolises the descent of the Buddha from heaven after visiting his mother. “Dhuechen” means festival while “Lha” means heaven and “bab” means descent. Legend goes that Queen Maya, mother of Lord Buddha, did not live long after his birth and took rebirth in Trayastrimsa or the heaven of the 30 Gods. After attaining enlightenment (Bodhi), Lord Buddha through spiritual powers came to know about the whereabouts of his mother and at the age of 41 ascended to heaven 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 detachment and longed to hear his preaching. Maugalyayana, who possessed miraculous powers, was asked to go up to heaven to beseech the Lord to return to earth. The gods were not willing to let Lord Buddha return but Maugalyana suggested that as the earthly beings did not have the powers to visit heaven, the celestial being could rather come to the earth to attend his preaching. Lord Buddha finally acceded and descended to earth at a place called Sankasya by means of a triple-ladder that was fabricated especially for the occasion by Viswakarma, the God of Tools.
Drukpa Tsheshi is another festival that is observed by Buddhists to commemorate the event when the Buddha delivered his sermons to his five disciples at Sarnath for the first time. This festival celebrates the Buddha’s first preaching of the four Noble Truths. The first is the Noble Truth of Suffering, the second the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering, Karma and Delusion and their causes; the third the Noble Truth of the Cessation of Suffering or the Attainment of Nirvana; and the fourth being the Truth of the Eight Ways Leading to Nirvana. The day falls on the fourth day (Teshi) of the sixth Tibetan month (Drukpa), which is around the end of July and the beginning of August. 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 felicitated with a Yak race.
Phang Lhabsol is a unique festival of Sikkim. The third Chogyal of Sikkim, Chakdor Namgyal, made this festival popular. In this festival, the snowy range of Kanchenjungha is worshipped for its unifying powers. The festival also marks the signing of the treaty of blood-brotherhood between the Lepchas and Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and Tetong Tek when, it is said, the local deities were invoked to witness the occasion. On this day, the guardian deity is portrayed by masked dances. The dancer, dressed as a red-faced deity with a crown of five skulls, rides a snow lion. To boost the mood of the spectators, clowns called Atchars play antics during the Chaams dance. This festival is held on the 15th day of the seventh month which is around the end of August.
Losoong marks the end of the harvest season and also the end of the 10th month of the Tibetan Year. Taking a cue from a good harvest and praying for even better prospects for the next crop, the festival is marked by Chaam dancing at the monasteries at Tsu-La-Khang, Phodong and Rumtek. The dances symbolise the exorcising of evil spirits and the welcoming of the good spirits of the new year. It is best observed in the countryside. Archery competitions and festivities mark the occasion. Men become gods during the dances and don attire with mystical symbols.

The Tibetan New AYear festival, Losar, is equally shared by the Sikkimese. People come out on the roads and join in the Yak Dance with yells to usher in the new year. They wear their best brocades, sing and greet each other with warm hugs. Picnickers are seen having a time out in groups in the lovely vales.
Sikkim’s Tibetan festivals are worth seeing, even if this means getting there from miles away.

Tibetan Sisters duo designers brings Tibetan fashion designs to Gangtok

Gangtok,Nov22 :The Tibet Festival recently held in Gangtok introduced Sikkimese people to Tibetan line of designer wear by Sisters duo Tshering Chokyi and Tshering Dickey who hails from Himachal Pradesh.

Tshering Chokyi after completing her Graduation and Diploma in Fashion Design, Tsering Choekyi worked as a Fashion designer with Revolution, a pioneer in regular and plus sized fashion in India and V & M, an export house which caters to the European market. Venturing into this abandoned and undiscovered line of Tibetan Fashion sounded quite a risk in the beginning, but they always believed in the saying, Invention is 1% Inspiration and 99% Perspiration. And it is this belief of their which gave birth to Gaari Designs.

Tsering Dickey is an alumni of Delhi University who always believes that success is the good fortune that comes from aspiration, desperation, perspiration and inspiration. It is her courage, faith, endurance and a dogged determination to surmount all obstacles that gave Gaari Designs its niche in the market.

They are coming to Gangtok in December in collobarationwith Abacus at SNOD Complex ,deorali,Gangtok.

Tibetans in India trace exile story

Bangalore: A three day-festival capturing the trials and tribulations of Tibetans would be organised in the IT capital to commemorate the 50 years of exile of the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama, and as a mark of gratitude to India for extending refuge and support to homeless Tibetans.

"It is sad to think we have been away from home for 50 years. I left Tibet when I was four. Currently there are 1,40,000 Tibetans in exile, majority of whom were in India", Tashi, a Tibetan in exile, told reporters here today.

The festival would showcase Tibet's culture, art, medicine religion and its ancient traditions, Lobsang Choedak, press officer, deparment of informationa and international relations, Central Tibetan Administration, said.

The highlights of the festival include a panel discussion on Indo-Tibet relations by Claude Arpi (the French author of books like The Fate of Tibet) Bahakutumbi Raman, former addtional secretary, cabinet secretariat and the Tibetan born educationist Nawang Dorjee.

A discussion on climate change and its impact on the Tibetan Plateau, and Buddhism in the 21st century would also be held by experts in the field.

Tibet's journey in exile which has been documented through photographs would also be showcased at the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad. The photo exhibiton depicts the beginning of the exiled Tibetan community and how it has transfromed over the last 50 years to become one of the most successful refugee communities in the world

Gangtok Tibet Fest concludes with a ‘thank you’ note

GANGTOK, November 11: The five days long Tibet Festival expressing the spirit of Tibet in its original form ended yesterday thanking the Indian and the State Government here at the State Capital.
The ethnic cultural presentations and the traditional fashion show marked the end of the festival which was started on November 5.
Kirti Dolkar Lhamu, the Member of Parliament of Exile Government of Tibet in her address said, Sikkim has been a special place in the heart of all the Tibetan communities. She said, the instrumental support and the love which India and Sikkim has showered on Tibetans would be always acknowledged and appreciated.
“May the blessings of the His Holiness, the Dalai Lama always be with the people Sikkim,” she said.
Also present on the occasion were Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, State HRDD Minister NK Pradhan, State UD&HD Minister DB Thapa and Gangtok MLA Dorjee Namgyal.
The five-day long festival also witnessed a series of programme, which included symposiums, exhibition of traditional dresses, food and cuisine.

Gangtok Tibetan girl in a traditional costume

A Tibetan girl in a traditional costume at the Tibet Festival that began in Gangtok on Friday. The Tibetan community in Sikkim is celebrating the festival to commemorate the 50 year of its exile in India. The five-day fest will showcase Tibetan music and dance, costume, art and crafts, cuisine, Buddhist rituals, medicine and astrology. ‘This festival has been organised to acknowledge, honour and thank the government and people of India and especially Sikkim for providing us a refuge in which the Tibetan community has thrived. We will remain ever grateful for all that India has done for us,’ a spokesperson for the organising committee said. The festival was inaugurated by Sikkim public health engineering minister TT Bhutia. The message of the 14th Dalai Lama was read out by Dhondup Dorjee, the Tibetan settlement officer of Gangtok, followed by a ‘Thank You India’ song by Thumi Sambhota Tibetan School and traditional dances by Ghangjong Doekar. Two films, on Undercover in Tibet-Channel 4 , and What remains of us were screened on the first day. Around 3,500 Tibetan families live in Sikkim. Picture by Prabin Khaling

Dalai Lama sends greetings to “Tibet Festival” in Sikkim

Gangtok, Sikkim, 6 November - His Holiness the Dalai Lama sent his greetings to the first ever Tibet Festival today in the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim that has strong cultural and religious ties with Tibet. The 1989 Nobel peace laureate said it is befitting that the festival was being held to coincide with the 50 years of the Tibetan people’s life in exile.

“I too have fond memories of my several visits of Sikkim. In particular, I have been deeply moved when undertaking pilgrimage to sacred sites like Tashiding and Pemayangtse,” read the message from the Tibetan leader who is currently touring Japan. Mr. Dhondup Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer of Gangtok, read out the message at the opening function of the festival today at Kanchenjunga Complex in Gangtok.

His Holiness further writes, “I am therefore pleased to send my greeting on the occasion of a Tibet Festival that is being held in Gangtok from November 6 to 10, 2009 by the Tibetan Community in Sikkim to express their gratitude to the state government and the people of Sikkim. It is befitting that this festival is being held to coincide with the 50 years of the Tibetan people’s life in exile.”

The Tibetan Community of Sikkim in association with three Tibetan NGOs from Dharamsala are hosting the event to express the Tibetan people’s gratitude to the government of India and its people for 50 years of hospitality.

T.T. Bhutia, the Minister of Transport & Public Health Engineering, presided over as the chief guest for the inaugural function, and appreciated the impressive work put up by the Tibetan community of Sikkim, and stressed on the importance of preserving Tibet’s rich cultural heritage. He also spoke on possible joint venture between the Tibetan and Sikkimese religious groups. Since Sikkimese people and Tibetans share a common religion, he urged, “the young Sikkimese lamas have much to learn and seek guidance from Tibetan lamas on the intricacies of Buddhist rituals”.

Mr. Karma Yougyal, Organising Secretary of the Tibet Festival, said, “The festival showcases the rich cultural identity of Tibet that has been conserved for the past 50 years in exile with kind assistance from the Indian government and its people. It will exhibit the spirit of Tibet in its original form.”

Mrs. Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, President of the Tibetan Women’s Association said, “We take this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude to His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has provided an unwavering and visionary leadership for all Tibetan people everywhere in the world.”

“Sikkim has a special place in the hearts of Tibetan people. The hospitality extended to us is invaluable,” added Mrs. Lhamo.

Lectures and exhibits on Tibet’s environment, Buddhism, Tibetan medicine, astrology, traditional music and dance, costumes, crafts, and cuisine will be showcased at the festival.

Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement for Tibet, Students for a free Tibet – India, U-Tsang Association Gangtok, Dotoe Association Gangtok, Domey Association Gangtok, Tibetan Youth Club Gangtok, Tibetan Women’s Association Gangtok and Regional Tibetan Freedom Movement Gangtok have jointly arranged the festival that is expected to draw several thousand people

Tibet Festival Starts @Gangtok

Gangtok,Nov07: With a banner saying “Thank you Sikkim for 50 years of hospitality”, a Tibetan festival is being held in the capital town to commemorate 50 years’ stay of the Tibetans in Sikkim who came from Tibet in 1959.
The festival at the top of Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex in Lall Market was inaugurated by chief guest Mr. TT Bhutia, Minister SNT and PHE, on Friday, November 6. Mr. NK Pradhan, Minister HRD, Mr. DB Thapa, Minister UD & HD, Mr. Sonam Gatyso Lepcha MLA, Mr. Dorjee Namgyal Bhutia, MLA, were present, among others. They all are visited the stalls exhibiting Tibetan traditional food, handloom and cultural features. Dancers and singers from Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, Headquarter of Tibetan Administration in exile, are performing live.
Chief Guest said, in Sikkim, we all Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia stay in unity and the government provides the same status to Tibetans also who are considered as guest by both India and state government.
Items of culture, tradition and Buddhist religion, seminar, traditional and modern fashion show are in the agenda of the festival which will continue till November 10. This commemorative festival is being celebrated throughout India

‘Tibet Festival’ at Gangtok from Nov 6

GANGTOK, November 5: The Tibetan community in the Himalayan State of Sikkim is set to host their maiden five day ‘Tibet Festival’ in Gangtok commencing from November 6 on the occasion of the 50th year of ‘Tibetans in exile’.


The festival will be held at Kanchenjunga Shopping Complex, Lal Bazaar here, informed the organizers, in a press statement. The festival will display the Tibetan culture, religion, Buddhist rituals, medicine and astrology, music and dance, costumes, arts and crafts and cuisine.

“This festival has been organized to acknowledge, honour and sincerely thank the government and people of India and especially the State of Sikkim and its people for providing a refuge in which the Tibetan community has thrived. Tibetans both inside and outside of Tibet are deeply conscious of the safe sanctuary that India has provided for us. We will remain ever grateful for all that India has done for us”, said the organizing committee.

“The festival expresses the preservation of Tibetan cultural identity that has been kept intact for the past 50 years. It will exhibit the spirit of Tibet in its original form”, the committee added.

The Tibetan community here also expressed its sincere indebtedness to the XIV Dalai Lama ‘who for 50 years has provided an unwavering and visionary leadership for all Tibetan people everywhere in the world’.

“Every Tibetan has a deep and inexpressible connection with His Holiness. He symbolizes Tibet in its entirety: the beauty of the land, the purity of its rivers and lakes, the sanctity of its skies, the solidity of its mountains, and the history and strength of its people”, said the Tibetan community here.

The community added that Sikkim has a special place in the hearts of Tibetan people. Its warmth of hospitality extended to us since the Chogyal’s era to the present popular government lead by Pawan Chamling, has generated a social bond that is so deeply intertwined, it is almost inseparable, said the Tibetan community.

The first day of the festival, November 6, will be graced by State PHE minister TT Bhutia as the chief guest who will declare the festival open. The message of the Dalai Lama will be read out by Dhondup Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer, Gangtok followed by a ‘Thank You India’ song by Thumi Sambhota Tibetan School and traditional dances by Ghangjong Doekar.

Two films ‘Undercover in Tibet-Channel 4’ and ‘What remains of us’ will also be screened on the inaugural day.

On Saturday, a panel discussion on ‘Tibet’s Environment’ will be chaired by Dalip Mehta while Khenpo Tsewant-la will be presenting a discourse on Buddhism in English.

On Sunday, a panel discussion on ‘Tibet in Exile’ will be chaired by Claude Arpi, discourse on Buddhism by Chamba Choepal followed by cultural presentations and a special appearance by Miss Tibet, Tshering Chungtak during a traditional Tibetan costumes pageantry show.

On Monday, Vinod Saighal will be chairing a discussion on ‘Significance on Tibetan culture’ followed by special screening of three films ‘Jigdrel (Leaving fear behind)’, ‘Nangpa La killing’ and ‘Strange Spirit: One country’s occupation’ after which the festival will be declared closed.

There are around 3,500 Tibetans in Sikkim who have settled in most parts of the State. A settlement of the Tibetan community is at Rabongla in South Sikkim while a group of the Tibetans have settled in Tshoka on the way to the Dzongri trek in West Sikkim. Most of them are entrepreneurs while some of them have taken up jobs in the State Government and organizations of the Union government, it is informed