Saga Dawa Festival Mount Kailash 04 June 2012 (at Tarboche as well as Yamdwar)

Enthusiastically celebrated on the full moon day of the fourth Tibetan Lunar month, Saga Dawa is the most important religious festival of Tibet. During the festival, everyone is seen reciting the prayers and playing the holy beads. The entire Tibet is deeply immersed in the festive and spiritual atmosphere. According to the Buddhist literary sources, Saga Dawa is celebrated to highlight the day when Sakyamuni (Buddha) attained the enlightenment.

The most important part of the festival is replacing the 'Tarboche Flagpole', the famous huge pole that lies on the way of Kailash Kora. Every year, the flagpole is brought down and a new pole is erected in the place. The pole replacing event is watched by all the locals and foreigners alike with wonder and awe. People all around the Tibet flock to the place to attend the event and to attach their small prayer flags to the pole.

The whole event is guided and ritually instructed by a Lama (a Buddhist teacher). The flagpole should stand upright or else it is believed to bring bad luck to Tibet. We encourage everyone to come to Tibet during Saga Dawa and join the festive celebrations of the region. Attending the festival is a great way to understand Tibetan life and culture. So, come and create a memory that remains for a lifetime.

The itinerary for a tour to Tarboche while attending the Saga Dawa festival on 15 June (2012) is as follows;