Saga Dawa Festival of Sikkim – The Buddhist Month of Merit

Significance of Saga Dawa Festival

In Buddhist belief, any good or bad karma gets multiplied during Saga Dawa —
🪔 Good deeds = 100,000 times more merit
⚠️ Negative actions = 100,000 times more impact

That’s why people avoid killing insects, eating meat, lying, or hurting others.
They focus on doing more punya (meritorious acts) like:

• Donating to the poor

• Freeing animals and birds

• Visiting monasteries

• Circumambulating stupas and chortens

• Lighting butter lamps

• Reciting mantras (especially “Om Mani Padme Hum”)

This month reflects the core teachings of Buddhism – compassion, simplicity, and selflessness.

How Saga Dawa is Celebrated in Sikkim

1. Monastic Ceremonies & Prayers

The celebration starts with rituals in monasteries like Rumtek, Enchey, Pemayangtse, Tashiding, etc.
Lamas perform pujas, chanting, and sacred dances, and Gur Bum readings (100,000 prayers) are recited.

2. Thangka Processions

On Saga Dawa Düchen, a grand Thangka (Buddha scroll painting) is carried around in a procession.
Devotees follow, reciting prayers and carrying prayer wheels, butter lamps, and incense.

3. Devotees Circumambulating Stupas

In places like Do-Drul Chorten (Gangtok), you’ll see hundreds of people circumambulating the stupa clockwise, spinning prayer wheels and whispering mantras.

4. Releasing Animals

This unique practice is called ‘Tsethar’, where people buy and free birds or fishes as a symbolic act of compassion.

5. Feeding Monks and the Poor

Locals offer alms, food, money, clothes, and essential items to monks and needy people, especially in remote villages.

Where to Witness the Best Celebrations?

🏯 Rumtek Monastery, Gangtok

• Most important place during Saga Dawa in Sikkim.

• You can witness massive processions, butter lamp lighting, and ancient rituals.

• Monks chant continuously throughout the day.

🛕 Do-Drul Chorten, Gangtok

• Famous for long queues of devotees doing pradakshina (circumambulation).

• Decorated with prayer flags and lamps during the festival.

🏔️ Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim

• Quiet but deeply spiritual celebration.

• Monks here chant sacred texts for days.

Local Beliefs & Cultural Touch

Saga Dawa is also connected with local Lepcha and Bhutia beliefs.
Elders tell stories of past life deeds and encourage children to be humble.
People stop eating meat for the whole month — even street vendors avoid selling non-veg. It’s seen as a month of purification, not just for the body but also for the soul.

Tips for Travellers During Saga Dawa

✅ Respect the rituals – Don’t interrupt the prayers or click flash photos inside monasteries.
✅ Dress modestly – Prefer full sleeves and covered legs when visiting monasteries.
✅ Be vegetarian for a day – Try the local veg dishes like thukpa, gyathuk, and phagshapa without meat.
✅ Participate – Spin prayer wheels, light a butter lamp, or donate food. Locals love when visitors join respectfully.
✅ Wake up early – Most rituals start early morning, around 5–6 AM.

Best Time to Visit for Saga Dawa Festival

• Month: May or June (based on Tibetan lunar calendar)

• Saga Dawa Düchen (main day): Changes every year. In 2025, it will be on June 10 (tentative).

• Always check with local monasteries for exact dates.

Some Local Cuisine to Try During Saga Dawa

• Sel Roti (Sweet rice doughnuts) – popular during fasting

• Tingmo with veg stew – local steamed bread

• Buckwheat noodles

• Butter tea (po cha) – must-try during early morning rituals

Related Festivals You Can Explore in Sikkim

• Losar – Tibetan New Year

• Pang Lhabsol – Dedicated to Mt. Kanchenjunga

• Drupka Teshi – Celebrates Buddha’s first teaching
  You can check my other blog post on these soon!

Conclusion

The Saga Dawa Festival of Sikkim is not just a celebration, it’s a deep spiritual experience. In this peaceful month, the whole region echoes with prayers, incense, and kindness. Whether you’re a spiritual seeker or a culture lover, attending Saga Dawa can touch your soul deeply.

If you’re planning a trip to Sikkim, try to visit during Saga Dawa month — you’ll experience the true heart of Buddhist Himalayas.

👉 Have you already read my detailed travel guide on Gangtok? Check it out here:
🔗 Gangtok – A Detailed Travel Guide & Some Tips

You can also explore more on Himalayan treks like Darma Valley, Adi Kailash, and others on my website mohitbangari.com, where I share full guides, routes, permit tips and cultural info.

Do you know about Ramman festival of Salud-Dungra village? It’s one of the intangible world cultural heritage of India in UNESCO. You can read a detailed article on this topic here.