Bumchu at Tashiding
February or March (14th and 15th days of the first Tibetan month)
The name means 'sacred vase'. According to tradition the vase was blessed in the eighteenth century and is kept sealed at Tashiding all year. On the night of the 14th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, the lamas open it in front of the assembled crowd. If the water stands at the brim, the year will bring peace and plenty; if it spills over, disaster or unrest; if it is low or nearly dry, famine.
Some of the water is then poured out for pilgrims, the vase is topped up from the Rathong Chu and sealed again for the next year. Thousands of people camp on and around the hill, and the courtyards fill with prayer, butter lamps and stalls selling food and offerings.
Tashiding itself is one of the most sacred sites in Sikkim, a conical hill covered in chortens between the Rathong and Rangeet rivers. Bumchu is the time when it is busiest and most alive.
How to do it well
- Book a room in Yuksom, Tashiding or Pelling well ahead; rooms near the monastery fill weeks before.
- Expect the main ritual late at night and into the early morning; dress for cold.
- Arrive at the hill by afternoon to find a place, and keep a torch handy for the steep path.
- Follow the crowd's lead on where to stand; never push towards the vase or the lamas.
- Check the exact dates each year; they follow the Tibetan lunar calendar.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is Bumchu held
Bumchu falls on the 14th and 15th days of the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, which usually lands in February or March. The dates move every year, so check the Sikkim government holiday list or ask Tashiding Monastery a few months ahead. Check current status before you travel, as crowd rules may change.
Where is Bumchu celebrated
At Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim, on a hilltop about 19 km from Yuksom and 40 km from Pelling. From the road head a steep path climbs to the monastery in 20–30 minutes. There is limited parking during the festival, so expect to walk further than usual and to queue.
Can tourists attend Bumchu
Yes. Visitors are welcome to watch and to receive the blessed water. Dress modestly, keep a respectful distance from the ritual, and ask before photographing monks or pilgrims. Crowds are large and the hill is steep, so it is not ideal for small children or anyone unsteady on their feet.
What happens to the sacred water
The lamas pour some of the water from the vase into smaller containers and share it among pilgrims, who take a few drops as a blessing or carry it home for family. The vase is then refilled with water from the Rathong Chu and sealed again until the next Bumchu.