Despite Fear of Coronavirus, 18,000 Tourists Celebrate Bhumchu Festival in Sikkim

Gangtok, March 9, 2020:

Sacred Bhumchu festival is being celebrated in Tashiding, West Sikkim despite fears of the coronavirus that has infected over 1 lakh people in more than 65 countries across the world.

This, time the devotees wore protective masks and an atmosphere of fear prevailed at the festival. One of the monks, talking to Inside Northeast, said, "tourists from all countries come here to witness the celebration but this time due to corona outbreak only local devotees have gathered here to receive sacred water and from morning we have received 16 to 18 thousand devotees, including ones from Darjeeling. Unlike previous years this time the water deposits in holy pot is less but the water is very clean and we have able to distribute to all the devotees who came here today."

Bhumchu festival is immensely sacred to the people of Sikkim and is unique celebration of the people. It is believed that this holy festival started somewhere between 755 BC - 804 BC in Tibet, under the reign of King Trisong Deutsonin (he is considered to be one of the three Dharma Kings who played a significant role in introducing Buddhism to the Himalayan region).

It was under his rule that Guru Padmasambhava when invited to Tibet performed holy rituals, meditated, and consecrated the land with water from his sacred vase.

The sacred vase too was later consecrated and is treasured in his most blessed monastery of Tashiding, Sikkim. Bhumchu festival is celebrated for two days starting on the 14th day of the first month of the Tibetan Lunar Calendar, which often falls in the months of February and March.

On the first day the monks of Tashiding Monastery open the sacred vase at the break of dawn and determine the future of the state.

On the second day, the closure ceremony is held amidst prayers and chants. The pot is refilled from sacred river nearby and is sealed again to be opened the next year.

The sacred water is distributed to the devotees which is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the one who consumes a drop of it. It is also believed that in the 17th century, the vase was rediscovered by one of the reincarnations of Guru Padmasambhava and since then, this festive resumed its festivities with all its glory and splendor.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.