Saga Dawa Festival Sikkim

The Saga Dawa festival is one of the most important festivals for the people of Sikkim celebrated with much enthusiasm in the capital city Gangtok. The Mahayana Buddhist tradition recognizes the full moon day of the fourth month of the Buddhist calendar as the anniversary of Buddha’s birth, his enlightenment, and his Nirvana. The day is celebrated by various names across India and abroad.

Saga Dawa is the one among the many ways in which devotees commemorate the day. Festivity occurs across Gangtok in the form of processions, prayers, and extending alms to the needy. The customs and rituals, carried out in remembrance of the Buddha, are said to bear fruits for the observers in the future.

The festivities mostly happen across Gangtok in the form of processions, prayers, and extending alms to the needy. Since it is observed on the full moon day of the 4th month of the Buddhist Lunar Calendar, a fixed date on the Gregorian calendar is not available for Saga Dawa.

In keeping with the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, Saga Dawa is celebrated to mark the birth, enlightenment, and the attainment of Nirvana of Gautam Buddha.