The Limbu community celebrates many vibrant festivals that reflect their agricultural cycles, spiritual beliefs, and cultural heritage. These festivals, called "Tangnam," emphasize gratitude, renewal, and community bonding.
Festival Calendar
| Festival | Approximate Date (Gregorian Calendar) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Chasok Tangnam | Mid November to Mid December (Full Moon of Senchengla / Mangsir Month) | The major harvest festival where first fruits are offered to deities, celebrated with prayers, dances, and community feasts. |
| Sirijunga Sawan Tongnam | December 15 | Festival honoring Sirijunga Limbu, the cultural and script revivalist, featuring cultural programs, prayers, and traditional music. |
| Yakwa Tangnam | Before the sowing season (varies locally) | Community prayers for protection and favorable weather for the farming season. |
| Sisekpa Tangnam | Start of monsoon season | Rituals with torches to cleanse and protect the community against hunger and evil spirits. |
| Balihang Tangnam | Late November / Early December (New Moon of Mangsir) | Festival of lights commemorating King Balihang's mythical survival from death, celebrated with lamps and cultural events. |
| Kakphekwa Tangnam (Limbu New Year) | Mid January (First day of Magh) | New Year festival with home cleaning, ritual offerings, and sharing food symbolizing new beginnings. |
| Sakela (Udhauli and Ubhauli) | Udhauli (Full Moon Mangsir - Early December), Ubhauli (Full Moon Baisakh - Mid May) | Celebrations marking seasonal migration and agricultural cycles with dance and communal festivity. |
Festival Descriptions
Chasok Tangnam
Chasok Tangnam is the most important Limbu festival celebrating the harvest. The first fruits are offered to the ancestor goddess Yuma Sammang and other deities, thanking them for a bountiful year. It involves ritual worship, community storytelling, singing, and dancing to strengthen social bonds.
Sirijunga Sawan Tongnam
This festival commemorates the birth anniversary of the 18th-century Limbu scholar and cultural hero Sirijunga Limbu. It is marked by spiritual ceremonies, cultural performances, and celebrations of Limbu script and traditions. The event gathers Limbu people from regions including Sikkim, highlighting the community's pride in their cultural identity.
Yakwa Tangnam
Celebrated before the commencement of sowing, this festival involves prayers for favorable weather and protection from natural calamities. It is a time when the community comes together in hope and preparation for the farming season.
Sisekpa Tangnam
A traditional monsoon festival, Sisekpa Tangnam involves nighttime rituals with homemade torches meant to cleanse the village and ward off evil. This preparatory ritual ensures physical and spiritual readiness for the months ahead.
Balihang Tangnam
The festival lights honor King Balihang, who according to mythology, escaped death through the power of light. The festival includes lighting oil lamps and commemorative plays representing victory over darkness and misfortune.
Kakphekwa Tangnam (New Year)
The Limbu New Year welcomes renewal, purification, and community well-being. Rituals include cleaning homes, offering traditional foods, and celebrating with neighbors to foster harmony and good fortune.
Sakela (Udhauli and Ubhauli)
Sakela marks transitions in nature and agricultural cycles. Udhauli celebrates the descent to lower lands in winter with gratitude dances, while Ubhauli welcomes the ascent to higher grounds in spring marked by prayers and festivities emphasizing renewal and strength.