• Sujal Pradhan, NET Correspondent, Sikkim

Hundreds of worshippers thronged the Gangtok street for a sacred procession of “Saga Dawa” festival. People commemorated the traditional festival, amid the chanting of religious prayers by monks and banging of drums.

It commemorates three significant events in Lord Buddha’s life : his birth, Enlightenment and attaining Nirvana or deliverance. Due to the concerned reason, this day is also considered ‘Triple Blessed Day’. The events occurred on this day in different years of his life.

People offered prayers and burned incense sticks at Tsuk-La-Khang monastery and other monasteries.

The festival falls on the full moon day of the Tibetan Calendar’s fourth lunar month, which correspond to June 3, 2022.

The highlight of this day was a procession carrying the Holy Books of the teachings of Lord Buddha from Deorali’s Tsuten Monastery. It is believed that good deeds, performed during the festival month deserve 300 fold in return.

In order to mark the occasion, people donated money to the religious organizations, monasteries and offered alms to the needy.