Gangtok: The annual Guru Rinpoche Thrungkar Tshechu was celebrated in Gangtok with deep devotion and cultural vibrancy on Monday. The main highlight was a traditional religious procession that began from Chorten Monastery in Deorali and concluded at the Maitri Manjari premises near White Hall. The festival, observed on the 10th day of the 6th lunar month of the Tibetan calendar, marks the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, who is highly revered across the Himalayan region for spreading Buddhism and subduing evil forces.
Organised by the Guru Thrungkar Tshechu Committee in collaboration with Dotapu Chorten Gonpa, the event included the ceremonial display of the Thongdrel Chenmo a massive silk tapestry of Guru Rinpoche for public viewing and blessings. The week-long scripture recitation of the Kangyur texts began on July 28 and ended on August 3, followed by the main procession the next day. Devotees and monks from various parts of Sikkim participated, alongside officials and guests.
Though Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang was expected to attend, he was not present. However, Ecclesiastical Minister Sonam Lama and Rural Development Minister Arun Upreti attended the programme. Traditional offerings such as dre-si (sweet rice pudding), solja (tea), and tshog (blessed food) were served to all attendees during the ceremony.
Chairman of the organising committee, Pasong Namgyal, said the festival is one of four major Buddhist festivals in Sikkim and holds great importance for spiritual cleansing and community bonding. He explained that chanting the mantra “Guru Padma Siddhi Hum” is believed to promote healing, peace, and positive energy.
The event concluded with a Guru Tshewang (longevity empowerment) ceremony and blessings for the devotees, followed by refreshment distribution. In recent years, the festival has grown beyond monastery walls into a community-wide celebration, supported by organisations like the Sikkim Buddhist Association. With the ceremonial procession, prayer recitations, and spiritual rituals, the festival once again brought together hundreds in a shared expression of faith and cultural identity.