Rumtek Dubchen & Tsechu

The Rumtek Dubchen Festival is a significant religious and cultural event celebrated at the Rumtek Monastery, located in Sikkim, India. This annual festival, held in the month of March or April, is dedicated to the Buddhist tradition and is one of the major events for the monastic community and locals in the region. The festival marks the triumph of good over evil, featuring religious rituals, prayers, and dances.

The festival’s highlight is the Cham dance, a sacred performance by the monks of Rumtek Monastery. During the dance, monks wear elaborate masks and costumes that represent various deities and symbols of Buddhist teachings. The Cham dance tells stories from Buddhist mythology and teachings, emphasizing the spiritual triumph of compassion and wisdom.

Dubchen, meaning “the great prayer” in Tibetan, is an integral part of the festival. It involves intense prayers and ritualistic offerings to seek blessings for the welfare and prosperity of the community. The monks also conduct the puja ceremonies, invoking peace and spiritual benefits for all beings.

The Rumtek Dubchen Festival is not just a religious event but also a time for cultural celebration, with visitors being able to witness the deep-rooted Tibetan Buddhist traditions, music, and vibrant cultural expressions. It is a perfect blend of spirituality and cultural heritage, drawing people from both the local community and tourists.

A week-long Vajrakilaya mass prayers or Dubchen is followed by Guru Padmasambhava or Rinpoche’s tsechu festival for 2 days on the ninth and tenth day of fourth month of Tibetan calendar. Tsechu has Chams (ritual dances), most of which are masked and wear elaborate ceremonial costumes. The dates provided here are for the Tsechu Festival but if you in Rumtek during the week preceding it , you can also see huge number of people from across Buddhist Sikkim and Bhutan gathered here for the prayers. Gregorian calender around June & July.