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Introduction
The Saga Dawa (May-June) Festival is one of the holy Buddhist festivals of Sikkim. The Saga Dawa which is held during the months of May June is an auspicious festival for the Mahayana followers of Buddhism. It is a festival that is celebrates the enlightenment of Lord Budhha.
It takes place during the fourth lunar month of the Buddhist calendar every year during full moon. On this day different years of his life, his enlightenment and finally his attainment of Nirvana is celebrated through long colorful processions.
Lord Buddha was born in Nepal in Lumbini as a prince and lived a royal lifestyle. But after a few years he realized that this materialistic life does not attract him at all and he shunned the royal lifestyle and went for the search of Enlightenment. At the age of 35, Buddha attained Enlightenment in Sarnath. Budhha finally attained Nirvana.
Saga Dawa is the festival where a procession is arranged which carries the Holy Books of his teachings from the Tsuklakhang Monastery in the Palace and takes it around the town.
The beautiful Saga Dawa is held with great vigor amongst the people of Sikkim. Held during the end of May and the early part of June this festival is a religious festival of Sikkim. The festival is considered to be the triple blessed festival of Sikkim.
The people of Sikkim on this day go to the monasteries offer butter lamps and worship their Lord. Monks with gyalings and ragdungs walk around the city of Gangtok along with the Holy Scriptures.
The Saga Dawa in Sikkim is an important festival and tourists from all over the world visit Sikkim to be a part of this holy festival.
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