Pang Lhabsol
Late August or September (15th day of the 7th Tibetan month)
The festival is unique to Sikkim. It is said to have been introduced by the third Chogyal, Chakdor Namgyal, in the early 18th century to give thanks to Khangchendzonga and its attendant deities. It also recalls the oath of brotherhood sworn between the Lepcha chief Thekong Tek and the Bhutia leader Khe Bumsa at Kabi Longstok, with the mountain called as witness.
In Gangtok the main event is the Pang Toed Chaam at the Tsuklakhang, the royal chapel near the old palace. Monks dressed as warriors and as Dzonga, the deity of Khangchendzonga, dance with swords and shields to the sound of long horns and cymbals. The Sikkim government declares a state holiday and the town fills with families in their best clothes.
The festival falls in the tail of the monsoon, so expect rain, landslide delays on NH10 and cloud over the peaks. It is a good reason to visit Gangtok in a quiet season, and hotel prices are lower than in October.
How to do it well
- Confirm the date each year, as it follows the Tibetan lunar calendar
- Arrive early at the Tsuklakhang courtyard for a place to stand
- Ask before photographing monks and families, and never use flash during the dance
- Allow spare time for monsoon road delays on NH10
- Ravangla in South Sikkim holds a larger Pang Lhabsol gathering if you can travel there
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
When is Pang Lhabsol celebrated in Gangtok?
Pang Lhabsol falls on the 15th day of the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar, which lands in late August or September. The exact date changes every year. Sikkim Tourism and the state holiday list publish it in advance, and hotels in Gangtok can confirm it closer to the time.
Can tourists watch the Pang Lhabsol masked dance?
Yes. The Pang Toed Chaam at the Tsuklakhang in Gangtok is open to the public, and visitors are welcome to watch respectfully from the edges of the courtyard. Dress modestly, keep your voice low, do not walk across the dance area, and ask before taking close photographs of people.
What does Pang Lhabsol celebrate?
It honours Mount Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of Sikkim and commemorates the blood-brotherhood treaty between the Lepcha and Bhutia communities, sworn with the mountain as witness. The festival is unique to Sikkim and is said to date from the reign of the third Chogyal, Chakdor Namgyal.
Is late August a good time to visit Gangtok for the festival?
It is a quieter, cheaper time to visit, but it is still the monsoon. Expect rain most days, cloud over the peaks and occasional landslides on NH10 between Siliguri and Gangtok. Build a spare day into your plan, and keep high-altitude trips to Tsomgo flexible in case of road closures.