The Major festivals of the Nepalese are celebrated according to the Hindu calendar but are unique in every extent in comparison to the celebration in the plains. They add joyful colors to the occasion and make the festive occasion as a grand one.

Dasain or Vijaya Dasami

Awaited by the overall Nepali community, finally the day comes of the celebration of Dasain which involves the slaying of the Demon MAhisasura by Goddess Durga, symbolizing the destruction of the evil by the good. Since the festivities last for about ten days, its known as Dasain i.e ten in Nepali. The festival proceeds with the Tika ceremony in which the Tika a mix of curd, rice and vermillion as a sign of blessings, is put by the elders of the family to the young ones in his family tree. The festival involves the practice of visiting various houses, singing and dancing to the traditional tunes and songs.

Tihar

Celebrated after a fortnight of Dasain is the festival of Lights "Tihar" is the Nepali version of Diwali celebrated in a little different way. This symbolizes the welcoming of the epic hero Ram from his fourteen years of exile. The Legendary Ramayan says that the day of his return was a new moon day and so lights are the main element of this festival.

Bhai Tika

As the Tihar comes to an end, Bhai Tika is celebrated on the 5th day of the Tihar, which celebrates the love between brothers and sisters. A sister applies colorful blends on her brother’s forehead and the duo are expected to take care of each other nad to stand by the promises taken.

Maghey Sankranti

Chane of the seasons was vital for the old and new inhabitants and Nepalese culture celebrates this in full glory. The festival indulges in harvest opf various underground roots and food items known locally as Tarul. Several dishes are prepared alongside and sharing ones cuisine to their nearby homes and vice versa.

Chaite Dasain

This occasion falls during April and is celebrated by the Nepalese symbolizing as their arrival of New Year. It is also said to be the birthday of Lord Rama but it has more of a celebrating the end of the year, according to the Nepali calendar.

Teyongsi Sirijonga Tongnam

It’s the festival celebrated in by the Limboo community basically and marks the birth anniversary of Sirijonga, the incarnate of King Sirijonga Hang. The celebration takes place in their temple probably known as 'Magheem'.

The venue of the festivities in Buddhist occurs usually in the premises of their Monastery and Every year several festivals are celebrated across the region in full cultural glory.

Drukpa Tsechi

On this day the Buddhists celebrates Buddha’s preaching of the first sermon in Sarnath. Acording to the ancient traittion they deck out in their traditional new wear to take part in the Yak race along the Himalayas and the winner receives blessings in cash. The festival is celkebrated with prayers to the deities and dancing of the women and man in traditional songs.

Bum Chu

The fewstival in which the holy water pot is revealed after one full year and the prediction of the year to come is made upon the level of water in the pot. The increase in water level means prosperity in Sikkim. Deacreased water levels signify shortage and drought and half full indicates crop abundance during the year. Its celebrated yearly in TAshiding Monastery during January/February.

Tse Chu

It’s an important chaam of the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre. It is celebrated with the masked dances which involves the various phases in the life of Guru Rinpoche. It also presents the eight manifestations of his life and battles against the evil spirits.

The Kagyet Dance

The Religious dance- or drama is performed in various monasteries during this festivals and the Global tourist inflow during the festivals is tremendous. It is based on the various Buddhist mythologies. They dance in the rhythm of the Liturgical music and chanting and portrays to the people about the arrival of the prosperous New Year.

Pang Lhabsol

The festival celebrates the consecration of Guardian deity of Sikkim Mt. Kanchendzonga into Buddhist religion- the commemoration of the blood brotherhood was sworn between the Lepchas and the Bhutias.

Saga Dawa

On the full moon day, the three important events in the life of Gautam Buddha ie. Birth, Attainment of Enlightment and Nirvana is celebrated. So this festival is celebrated as Saga Dawa and is still celebrated in full glory. Long processions of pilgrims take out processions and it looks very colorful. The line consists of monks, preachers and students.

Losoong

It is the festival of the Bhutias who celebrate this festival as an agricultural New Year. Prosperous harvest and the overshowing of good over evil is also one key aspect of the festival. These festivals are held at different monasteries ofnSikkim and it carries on with offering of harvest to the deity and prayers are held for more prosperous harvest in the years to come.

Losar

It is the Tibetan New Year celebration and occurs in the mid of May. The event draws great crowds here and is well organized with rich cultural activities like singing and dancing. The carols are also part of the festival and it is definitely one of the grand festivals celebrated in Sikkim.

Lhabab Duchen

This festival of the Buddhist symbolizes the descent of Lord Buddha from heaven. It generally falls on the mid of November is also a memorable day towards glorifying the efforts of Mothers as Queen Maya, mother of Lord Buddha had passed away that day.