Fairs And Festivals Of The Hills

“The Hills” refers to places like Sikkim and surrounding areas where people share similar cultures, festivals and food. Population in The Hills is diverse and various festivals are celebrated by different cultures that harmoniously reside in this area. Sikkim is rich in its culture and tradition and an ideal place for people who like to explore unfamiliar cultures and ethnicities. If you’ve been planning a trip to Sikkim then visit https://www.footprintholiday.com/ to book your stay at the Temi House and see the beautiful cherry blossoms during the “cherry tea festival”. The festival of Lossoong, which is said to mark the start of the year for Sikkimese people is celebrated with zeal and utmost enthusiasm. Like lossoong, there are many fairs and festivals celebrated which you can explore during your tour.

Bumchu
This festival is one of the holiest festivals in Sikkim and is a celebration of the opening of the vessel of holy water. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar which falls during February/March and is held at a historic monastery of Sikkim- The Tashiding Monastery.



The water level in the vessel is also of significance to the monks and the devotees and is believed to signify the amount of upcoming fortune or misfortune. 

Dashain
Dashain is primarily a Hindu- Nepalese festival in Sikkim and surrounding areas and the celebration is similar to how Durga puja or Dussehra is celebrated in other parts of the country. Only difference is that the 10th day of the puja is the day of “Tika”, where the elderly members of the family bless the younger ones with sticky and colored rice on the forehead and cash. Next full moon night marks the end of Dashain. It happens between the months of September and November.



Pang Lhabsol 
Pang Lhabsol is a festival unique to Sikkim. This festival worships and hallows Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of the state. This festival indicates the role of the Mountain God in the introduction of Buddhism in Sikkim. The Pang Lhabsol is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Tibetan calendar and happens during August/September in terms of the Gregorian calendar. During this festival people pray for the protection of the state to the Mountain God and also commemorates the treaty of Brotherhood among the Bhutias and the Lepchas. “Chaam '' or the warrior dance is performed as choreographed by The Third Chogyal Chador Namgyal which is believed to have appeared to him in his vision. 



Flower Festival
The infamous Flower show is held in Gangtok town. The flower show begins in the month of March and begins with an orchid show and different sections compete with each other.



This festival attracts a lot of tourists and locals and the show is held in a large glass house with an attractive and ingenious display of flowers. A small-scale flower show is also held in Namchi, South Sikkim every year. This is a perfect fair for flower enthusiasts and if you are one you can visit https://www.footprintholiday.com/ to book your stay at “Villa Nerola”, Gangtok.

Gangtok Food and Culture Festival. 
Annual Gangtok Food and Culture Carnival is held in the heart of the town, MG Marg every year around December. A variety  of cultural cuisine  and artwork is on display for the tourists and is organised by the Sikkim Tourism Department. A lot of local artists perform and the Sikkimese  culture is at full display. If there’s anything that we would suggest you not to miss, it’s this. 


  
These festivals are just a snippet of the fairs and festivals in Sikkim. The only way to experience the rich culture and heritage of the Hills is by booking an escapade and experiencing the culture first hand. Visit https://www.footprintholiday.com/ to make the plan of visiting Sikkim a reality and spend a relaxing time amidst nature.