Saka Dawa

Saka Dawa - Festival for Releasing Living Things

Celebrated as the most sacred Buddhist day, Saka Dawa is an important festival of Ladakh. The whole fourth Tibetan month is celebrated. Buddha had performed three important deeds, took birth, attained enlightenment and parinirvana on the full moon day of the month. During this time, people emphasis on various Dharma practices like reciting mantras, performing sadhanas, offering mandalas, taking precepts and saving animals. It is conducted to commemorate Sakyamuni every year.

Time

Saka Dawa is celebrated on the 4th month of the Tibetan Calendar. This year, it is going to be celebrated on 13th June 2014.

Significance

Saka Dawa is considered as the most sacred day for Buddhism. The fourth month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar is known as “Saka Dawa.” “Saka” is the name of the star, closest to the earth while Dawa means “month”. It is an important religious festival in Tibet. It is held to celebrate Sakyamuni's enlightenment.

Celebration

On this day, people change the Tarboche flag pole. It is situated at the south of the mountain, Kailash Kora. It is believed that after changing the pole, the flag pole should stand erect, or else it is considered inauspicious by Tibet. It is done by the lamas of nearby monasteries.

Highlights

Mt. Kailash is among the most significant places to celebrate the festival. During the event, Tibetans gather to attach their prayer flags and to remove the one for the last year. The ceremony is led by a Lama, and the flagpole is mounted under his instructions. Once the flagpole is erected, Tibetans pray and throw 'wind horses' into the air. Prayer tuning, Sutra chanting and Cham dancing are other religious activities that dominate the festival.

Take delight in unparalleled euphoria of Saka Dawa, the Sacred Festival of Ladakh!