Bhutia, Lepcha, Sherpa and Buddhist pilgrims from Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan · West Sikkim
Bumchu at Tashiding
Feb–Mar, 14th–15th day of the 1st Tibetan month (lunar)
Photo: Amitabha Gupta · CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Once a year the lamas of Tashiding open a sealed sacred vase and read the coming year in its water: full means plenty, low means hardship. Pilgrims queue through the night for a few drops.
Bumchu means 'sacred vase' in Tibetan, and the ritual at Tashiding Monastery centres on a vase that, by monastery tradition recorded in Wikipedia's article on Tashiding, holds water blessed in the time of Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century. The vase stays sealed all year. On the night of the 14th day of the first Tibetan month, in February or March, the lamas open it in front of the assembled crowd and inspect the level of the water.
The reading is a forecast for Sikkim. If the vase is filled to the brim, the year will be prosperous; if it is low or empty, hardship or famine may follow. After the reading, some of the holy water is shared out to pilgrims, who carry it home in small bottles, and the vase is sealed again for the next year.
Tashiding stands at about 1,465 m on a heart-shaped hill between the Rathong Chu and the Rangeet, and during Bumchu the narrow road from Legship and Yuksom fills with jeeps from across Sikkim, Darjeeling, Nepal and Bhutan. Stalls, prayers and masked figures fill the courtyard. It is a working religious event, not a show, so dress modestly and follow the lamas' instructions.
If you go
Tips for the day
- Book a room in Yuksom, Pelling or Legship well ahead, because Tashiding has very few beds and fills during Bumchu.
- Expect long queues for the water late at night; carry a torch, warm layers and a small clean bottle.
- Dates follow the Tibetan lunar calendar and move each year, so check current status before you travel.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Bumchu at Tashiding
When is Bumchu at Tashiding?
Bumchu falls on the 14th and 15th days of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, about two weeks after Losar, which places it in February or early March. The vase is usually opened on the night of the 14th. Because the date is lunar, it moves every year; we confirm the exact nights with the monastery calendar when you book.
What happens during Bumchu?
Lamas open a sacred vase kept sealed for a year and read the water level as a forecast for Sikkim's coming year. Full water means prosperity; low water warns of hardship. Some of the water is then shared with pilgrims, and the vase is sealed again for a year. Prayers and ceremonies run through the day and night around it.
Can tourists attend Bumchu?
Yes, visitors are welcome if they respect it as a religious event. Dress modestly, remove hats inside shrines, walk clockwise around chortens and do not push into the queue for the holy water. Ask before photographing lamas or rituals, and never use flash inside the temples. Crowds are large, so keep children close.
How do I reach Tashiding for Bumchu?
Tashiding is about 40 km from Pelling via Gyalshing and Legship, roughly 2 hours by car, and about 19 km from Yuksom. Shared jeeps run from Gyalshing and Legship, more often during the festival. A reserved car is easiest for a late-night visit. Roads are crowded on festival days, so leave early and check current status before you travel.
Go for it
Where it happens and how to get there
monastery
Tashiding1,465M
Tashiding
The heart-shaped hill of chortens and the sacred Bumchu vase
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