sikkimese tradition

 

welcoming H.H. XIV  Dalai Lama to gangtok,Sikkim,India

Birds of Sikkim by Lukendra Rasaily

          Birds of Sikkim by Lukendra Rasaily

BARRED OWLET

BLUE WHISTLING THRUSH

COMMON HOOPOE

GREY BUSH

GREY-HEADED CANARY FLYCATHER

LARGE BILLED CROW

PLUMBEOUS WATER REDSTART

RED-BILLED LEIOTHERIX

WHITE WAGTAIL

kagyad dance

 

Kagyed  is a Buddhist festival held in parts of northern India particularly Sikkim. The mask dance performance is a part of the annual harvest festival called Lossong. The Kagyed dance is performed on the 28th and 29th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Calendar which usually falls in early December.

The Kagyed dance symbolizes destruction of the evil forces by burning effigies made of wood, flour, and paper. Practitioners also pray for peace and prosperity for every Sikimmese home.

 Buddhists monks sport a mask while taking part in the Kagyad dance. Costumed Lamas with gaily painted masks, ceremonial swords and sparkling jewels, leap and swing to the rhythm of resounding drums, trumpeting of horns and chanting of monks. Kagyad chaam is the one of the four forms of masked dances in the state.Although the dance is very serious in nature, jesters perform in between to provide comic relief.

MONASTERIES OF SIKKIM

Sikkim has more than 200 monasteries belonging to Nyingma and Kagyu order.They influence the cultural  heritage and lifestyle of the people of Sikkim.Robes in red ,lama chant ancient ,ancient mantras to the rythm of drum and trumpets would be enthralling view.Gompas (monasteries)are adorned with life like frescoes of heavy buddhist legends,rare silk and brocade thankas.

  
Some important and beautiful monasteries of Sikkim

PEMAYANTSE MONASTERY

TASHIDING MONASTERY

RUMTEK MONASTERY

DEORALI CHORTE

1.  Rumtek monastery..............24km from gangtok.
2. Pemayantse monastery............70km from gangtok.
3. Tashiding monastery........60km from gangtok.
4. Enchey monastery................2km (within gangtok).
5. Deorali chorten......................2km(within gangtok)
6. Phodong monastery..............26km from gangtok.
7. Ralang monastery..................60km from gangtok and many more....    

sikkim map