Sagadawa festival tour to Mt. Kailash

Festival Date : June 04, 2023

Saga Dawa festival tour is not only to see the pristine beauty of the region but also to experience highly colorful festival at the holiest Mt. Kailash Parbhat and Manasarovar.

SAGA DAWA is very important festival in the Tibetan society, which held each year on the full moon day of the fourth lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. This festival is celebrated in honor of Sakyamuni's and his enlightenment as well as his birth, has a special significance during the Year of the Horse. The 15th day of the fourth month on the Tibetan calendar is said to be the birthday of Sakyamuni, and the day when he died and attained Nirvana. During this period, hundreds of thousands of people turn their prayer wheels singing and dancing. Every year, they replace the Tarboche flagpole, a huge pole that stands round of Kailash. It is said that the flagpole should stand perfectly upright, or else things are not good for Tibet . So it has to result in the perfect upright position of the flagpole, A steel cable is attached to two trucks, engines are warmed up, and then, on the sign of the Lama, and they go backward, pulling the flagpole. To be able to control the movement, on both sides of the flagpole people pull ropes too, to prevent it doesn't incline to one or the other direction. Once the trucks start moving, it all go very fast, the flagpole is moving, the A-structures that were supporting it, fall down and it is all over. And then big magic occurs, the flagpole stands upright, and at that moment, thousands of wind horses fly into the sky... like an explosion of prayers going to the heavens. You can really feel a sudden great sense of happiness surrounding you.

The festival is observed by turning prayer wheels, having vegetarian lunch and a picnic and so on by the Mt. Kailash region. Folk entertainers will perform Tibetan tradition; they will pay their homage to Buddha, observe a vegetarian rule, refrain from killing domestic animals and give out alms during the month. People donate large sums to the religious orders, monasteries and to the beggars that gather at this time of year. During Saga Dawa, the karmic results of virtuous and non-virtuous actions are magnified and it is believed that the merit earned on this day is multiplied. As a result, the tradition in the Tibetan community is to make offerings to their temple, Lama, and their community. One important offering that is made is to poor people. Tibetans give money to the beggars also give money to save the lives of animals. For instance, giving money to the butcher to save the life of a sheep.

Saga Dawa festival has been celebrated by the Tibetan Buddhists for past thousand years and to be there at this moment is more like being part of a magic event, something that gets a total grip on all of your senses and of course a powerful experience.  Come-join us and experience it yourselves.