Festivals of Sherpa

Sherpa people have their own festivals and festivities. All these festivals are related to Shakyamuni Buddha and Acharya Padma Shambhava. Some of the festivals are given below.

• The Miraculous Day: This festival is celebrated on the first full moon according to the lunar calendar of Sherpa (“Datho”). On this day, Shakyamuni Buddha performed a Miracle.
• The other festival is celebrated on the full moon day in the third month (Depung la tukhor sungu tuchen). This is the anniversary day of the first Kalachakra Sarman at Amaravati by god Gautama Buddha.
• The other festival is celebrated on the full moon of the fourth month (Saka Dawi Tuchen). This is the auspicious day when lord Siddhartha Gautama was born, got enlightenment and “Maha Parinirvana”.
• The fourth day of the sixth month (ksho Khor Tuchen) is also celebrated. This is the Holy Day of the first religious preaching in Beneras by the Pioneer of Buddhism, Mahatma Gautama Buddha.
• The birthday of “Guru Rimpoche Padmasambhava” on the ‘Chhe chu’ (tenth day) of the sixth month is also celebrated. (Gurui Tuchen)
• The auspicious twenty-second day of the ninth month (Galwa Lala Bappi Tuchen) is also celebrated. On this day, Lord Gautama Buddha stepped into the earth from the haven of millions of gods and goddesses.

Similarly, we worship ‘Padharaja’ of Acharya Padmasambhava on the tenth day of the waxing full moon of every month (che nga). Worship of ‘Dakeni’ is done on the tenth day (Khadoma) of the waning moon (Nam gang) every month (Nger nga). Similarly, according to time and situation, various worshipping are done: “Dumji, ‘Dupchen’, ‘Mani Rildub’ and ‘Nyungne’ )fasting worship), Yarjyang, Fak nying”. Loshar is celebrated as the main festival on every New Year’s Day.

To keep the existence of any community, religion, language, customs, and culture are necessary, and to enliven them, Religion is of great importance.