Saga Dawa

Saga Dawa - Festival for Releasing Living Things

Celebrated as the most sacred Buddhist day, Saga Dawa Tibetan Festival is an important event in Ladakh. The whole 4th Tibetan month (between the months of May and June) is celebrated as the occasion of Lord Buddha?s birth, 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 every year to commemorate Shakyamuni Lord Buddha, his life and prechings.

Significance

Saga Dawa is considered as the most sacred day for Buddhism. The fourth month of the Tibetan Buddhist calendar is known as "Saga Dawa". Saga is the name of the star that is closest to the earth and Dawa means ?month?. It is an important religious festival in Tibet. It is held to celebrate Shakyamuni's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana.

Celebration

On this day, lamas of monasteries change the flag pole called Tarboche. 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, otherwise it is an inauspicious omen.

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 performing Cham dance are other religious activities that dominate the festival.

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