A procession brought out on the occasion of Saga Dawa. Picture by Ashit Rai

Gangtok, June 3: Buddhists today celebrated Saga Dawa, considered the holiest of religious festivals in the state. Saga Dawa is celebrated in the fourth month of the Buddhist lunar calendar, the “triple blessed festival”, as it is called, marks three events that occurred at different times in the life of the Buddha.

Devotees from all over the hill state gathered in large numbers to offer prayers and burn butter lamps at the various monasteries in Gangtok.

Hundreds of believers had gathered at Tsuklakhang (royal chapel) next to the Sikkim palace where Saga Dawa is observed on a grand scale every year.

Sikkim Governor V. Rama Rao reached Tsuklakhang early in the morning to offer prayers.

Similar sessions were also held at Drodul Chorten at Deorali and the Enchey monastery where monks and devotees recited mantras.

Monks, devotees and students also took out a procession later in the day. The religious rally began from Tsuklakhang and wound its way through Kazi Road and M.G. Marg before completing a full circuit and ending at the royal chapel.

Students and devotees at the procession carried Kangyur texts on their shoulders. Kangyurs are 103 volumes of the Buddha’s teachings in three parts. They are carried through the procession so that passers- by and devotees can touch them with their heads to seek blessings.

Chief minister Pawan Chamling, in a message through the information and public relations department, greeted the people of the state on the auspicious occasion.

In his message, Chamling urged the people to follow the noble teachings of the Buddha which, he claimed, were of utmost importance in this tumultuous age.

Lord Buddha was born as Siddhartha to King Sudhodna and queen Maha Maya of the Sakya clan at Lumbini, in Nepal, in 560 BC. He renounced worldly comforts at a young age and is said to have achieved enlightenment on this day at Sarnath when barely 35 years old.

Lord Buddha also attained Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar on the same day, when he was 81.

According to Yishey D, an upcoming writer and researcher, the entire fourth month of the Buddhist lunar calendar is observed as the Saga Dawa month.

“The three fold auspicious day celebrated in the 4th month of the Buddhist lunar calendar followed by a full moon night is marked as the day Lord Buddha was born, achieved enlightenment and attained nirvana in different years of his lifetime,” he said.

Buddhists around the world observe this month as a time for meditation. It is believed that all positive efforts made during this month lead to a thousand-fold increase in good karma while sins and misdeeds lead to the opposite.