Brief Introduction to Saga Dawa Festival

Saga Dawa (Saga Dawa Festival ས་ག་ཟླ་བ) refers to the full month of April based on the Tibetan lunar calendar. The Saga Dawa festival celebrates the birth of Buddha, emphasizing its significance as a ritualistic ceremony that commemorates major events in Buddha Sakyamuni’s life. It is the most important month according to the doctrine of Buddhism for consisting of five major events of twelve deeds of the supreme emanational body of Buddha e.g. taking birth, practicing asceticism, vanquishing Mara’s host, attaining perfect enlightenment, and passing into the final nirvana. April 15 is the rich-blessed day as it is considered and is the encountering date of three deeds a day such as taking birth, attaining perfect enlightenment, and passing into the final nirvana. Buddha had passed the heredity succession of Buddhism to Osung and shown he passing into the nirvana with forming four different arm gestures for the rest of the world.

Significance in Tibetan Buddhism

The Saga Dawa Festival holds profound significance in Tibetan Buddhism, as it commemorates three pivotal events in the life of Buddha Sakyamuni: his birth, enlightenment, and death. This festival is revered as one of the most sacred and important events in the Tibetan Buddhist calendar. Tibetan Buddhists believe that the actions performed during this auspicious month have a magnified impact on their karma. Consequently, they engage in various religious activities, such as making offerings, reciting prayers, and performing acts of compassion, to accumulate merits and purify their minds. The deep spiritual connection that Tibetan Buddhists have with the Saga Dawa Festival underscores its importance in their religious practice and daily lives.

Saga Dawa and Tibetan People’s Realization

Saga Dawa festival tour is such a spiritual event that has been entered into the deep virtual faith of Tibetans. This full month is considered to be the one and only important festival throughout Tibet. So, every Tibetan people take care about their deeds for good actions to accumulate merits as it doubles the result for any good or evil actions shown in the specific period.

Saga Dawa and Tibetan People’s Spiritual Practice in the Tibetan Lunar Calendar

Prior to five decades, all Tibetan people pay homage in the Jokhang Temple, the Ramoche Temple, the Norbulingka, the Potala and doing a Lhasa Lingkor (outer track of circumambulation in the Lhasa city) together with officials from the administration. The Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace, both former residences of the Dalai Lama, hold significant cultural and historical importance in Tibetan Buddhism. Especially, Tibetan people will provide a new dress to images in the temple and monasteries as well. During the days, people in Lhasa will get up early for prostrating and offerings in the first and foremost of a day. The term ‘Saga Dawa’ in Tibetan language signifies ‘the fourth month,’ highlighting the festival’s importance in the Tibetan calendar. Then, well dressed up them and going to Zonggyab Lukhang (Back side of Potala Palace) with bunches of packed snakes and food, where to celebrate and spend the blessing moments by singing songs and vocal cords. Among many of the good deeds, a mutual deed that Tibetan people really care of during the Saga Dawa is not attempting a single sin consciously valued to be evil. Thus, eating meats, harming a life and even a harsh speech is being strained from inner of every individual.

Celebrations and Traditions

The Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated with immense fervor and enthusiasm across Tibet. The festivities commence on the 1st day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar and continue until the 15th day. During this period, Tibetan Buddhists immerse themselves in a variety of religious activities. They visit temples and monasteries, such as the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple, to offer prayers and perform rituals. One of the most significant traditions is the kora, a sacred pilgrimage around Mount Kailash, which is considered one of the most sacred mountains in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetan pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau undertake this arduous journey, circumambulating the mountain to seek blessings and spiritual purification. The air is filled with the fluttering of prayer flags, and the atmosphere is charged with devotion and reverence.

Mt. Kailash – A Sacred Mountain Pilgrimage Destination During Saga Dawa

Since Mt. Kailash is the most sacred mountain throughout Tibet. The region does always seen crowded with pilgrims from everywhere in Tibet. Even, it is a long distance to reach by any means transportation. Still there are a limited number of people will gather and celebrate the festival at Dharpoche. The flagpole areas blow the holy mountain. There will be special lamas to start the festival in the in the very spot on 15th and the festival ends after setting the new flagpole as it is doing every year, for the glory of Mt. Kailash. The Kailash Saga Dawa Festivaltour will take more than 3 hours to complete setting of circumstance and new prayer flag by people. After end of the Saga Dawa Festival Festival everyone in the place will start kailash kora (Circumambulation) around the mountain. Normally, local people can finish the full kora within 14–15 hours. The kailash trek during the Saga Dawa Festival is a spiritually significant and adventurous journey, offering breathtaking scenery and cultural experiences. Are you ready to book Saga Dawa Festival Tour 2023 early?

Festival Dates and Duration

The Saga Dawa Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar, which typically falls in May or June in the Gregorian calendar. The festival spans a period of 15 days, with the peak celebrations occurring on the 15th day. The duration of the festival may vary slightly depending on the lunar calendar, but it generally lasts for about two weeks. During this time, Tibetan Buddhists from all walks of life come together to honor the life and teachings of Buddha Sakyamuni, making it a time of deep spiritual reflection and communal harmony. Whether in the bustling streets of Lhasa city or the serene landscapes surrounding Mount Kailash, the Saga Dawa Festival is a testament to the enduring faith and devotion of Tibetan Buddhists.

How to get there

Tibetan festivals, such as the Saga Dawa Festival, hold significant cultural importance and are celebrated with great enthusiasm. Travelers abroad usually do trek Holy Mountain within three easy days. It is a memorable experience to do this trekking for any means, especially during the Saga Dawa Festivals. In order to arrive at Dharchen (a small town below Mt. Kailsh, is also a place to stay overnight before trekking) a traveler may need at least three days if the trip starts from both Lhasa as well as Kathmandu. There is also flight availability only from Lhasa. The capital town of Ngari region, from where it takes five hours driving to Dharchen.

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