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Buddhist festival 'Saga Dawa' celebrated in Sikkim

     Gangtok: Thousands of devotees thronged the street in Gangtok for a sacred procession to celebrate the "Saga Dawa" festival. Amidst the chanting religious prayers by Buddhist monks and beating of drums people observed the traditional festival of Saga Dawa. The event is the most important occasion for Tibetan Buddhists. It commemorates the three important events in Lord Buddha's life, his birth, his achieving Enlightenment and his passing away after attaining Nirvana or deliverance. The events occurred on this day in different years of his life. Pasong Namgyal, president of the Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organisation said: "In this month Lord Buddha was born on the 7th of the day and on the 15th of the day Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. And again on the 15th of the day, the Maha Parinirvana, Lord Buddha passed away. So this being one of the greatest occasion of the Buddhist festivals and it is being observed. Every hour we observed it, particularly the Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organisation." People offered prayers and burned incense at Tsuk-La-Khang monastery. The festival falls on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar which correspond to the 3rd of June this year.

    The event was organised by the Sikkim Buddhist Deuchen which has been orgainsing the event for the past 21 years in Gangtok. Namgyal said: "By taking around this pustak kanjar, kanjar pertains to the teachings of the Buddha. The significance of taking around this kanjar is to spread the teaching of Buddha to all humanities so that they receive blessings." The highlight of the day's observation was a procession carrying the Holy Books of the teachings of the Buddha from the Tsuk-La- Khang Monastery around the town. It is believed that good deeds done in the month of this festival deserve 300 fold in return. To mark the occasion, People donate money to the religious orders, monasteries and offer alms to the needy. Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini in Nepal to King Sudhodhna and Queen Maha Maya of the Sakya Clan around 560 BC. He renounced the world and after wandering for years in search of the truth.Buddha, died at the age of eighty one on attaining Nirvana or deliverance into bliss.
- June 13, 2004