Festivals of Sikkim

Teesta Tea Tourism FestivalNyempa Guzom
Teesta Tea and Tourism Festival is an inter-stateNyempa Guzom is a festival that is celebrated within
festival celebrated every year either in November orthe Monasteries in Sikkim. Common people visit and
December at Darjeeling and Dooars of West Bengaloffer gifts of fruits, sweets & even donations and pray
and at Sikkim. The festival is aimed for the promotionfor the good will of their family and beloved ones. It
of tourism. The West Bengal Tourism, Darjeelingfalls on the 6th and 7th day of the 11th month of
Gorkha Hill Council, and Sikkim Tourism, supported byTibetan calendar, which sometime around December -
the Tourism Department of India Government, jointlyJanuary. This is observed few days after Loosung.
organize the festival. It holds many cultural programs,Tamu Lochar
water sports, food carnival, toy train ride, and film fests.This festival is celebrated by Gurung Communities in
Sikkimese New Yearthe state. It is symbolizes the arrival of Tamu New
Losoong is the New Year for the people of Sikkim. ItYear. It falls on Pus pandra i.e 15th day of the nine
generally, falls in the month of December and marksmonth of Nepali Calendar, which is sometime during
the end of harvesting season. The highlights of theDecember. This marks the celebration after a year's
festival are Chaam dances and archery contests.hardwork. This month is barred from any kind of
Losoong festival is also famous as Sonam Losoongploughing and digging. According to legends, the
(Farmers' New Year). It falls on the 18th day of theancestors of Tamus known as Khemas did a long
10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and dots themeditation and Lord Buddha himself appeared to them
agricultural New Year when rice and grains are inon this day of Pus pandra and enlightened them. Thus,
plenty. People of Sikkim celebrate this day bythis day was very auspicious to them and they then
performing a very famous Chaam dance. They alsostarted the Tamu Buddhism. On this day the Lo (birth
make offerings to the gods, both in gompas and insign) changes and is considered propitious for
their domestic shrines. Sonam Losoong is more of acalculating the good and bad scope of particular lo
private affair. People get up before dawn to take bathwhereby the monks declare specific prayers to be
and wear new clothes. Later, all the family membersperformed for each lo. All types of decisions are taken
sit together to pray for peace and prosperity. Thisand debts are repaid on this date. The festivity lasts
festival lasts for 15 days.for three days.