Bhutia, with Lepcha Namsoong in the same season · East Sikkim
Losoong and the Kagyed dance
December; Kagyed on the 28th–29th days of the 10th Tibetan month, Losoong a few days later (lunar)
Photo: Subhrajyoti07 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Losoong is the Sikkimese Bhutia new year and harvest festival, held in December. In Gangtok it is preceded by the Kagyed dance at the Tsuklakhang, performed by monks of Pemayangtse on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th Tibetan month to clear away the old year's obstacles.
Losoong marks the end of the harvest and the turn of the year for Sikkim's Bhutia community, and Wikipedia notes that it is celebrated every December. The Lepcha celebrate Namsoong in the same season, so the state holiday is usually listed as Losoong/Namsoong. For families it is a time for new clothes, visits to relatives, special food and offerings at home and at the monasteries.
The public highlight in Gangtok comes first. On the 28th and 29th days of the 10th Tibetan month, usually early December, monks from Pemayangtse Monastery perform the Kagyed dance in the shrine hall courtyard of the Tsuklakhang Palace, according to Wikipedia's article on Kagyed. Masked dancers representing protector deities destroy effigies of evil, and jesters provide comic relief between the solemn dances. Similar dances are held at Rumtek and Phodong.
Losoong follows a few days later. Dates are fixed by the lunar calendar, so they move each year; we confirm them in November. December is dry and clear in Gangtok, with cold mornings and good mountain views, making this one of the best festival seasons to visit.
If you go
Tips for the day
- Arrive at the Tsuklakhang by 9 am on Kagyed days; the courtyard is small and fills quickly.
- Dress warmly: December mornings in Gangtok are around 5–8 °C.
- Combine Losoong with a Dzongu homestay for the Lepcha Namsoong at Namprikdang.
Questions travellers ask
Questions about Losoong and the Kagyed dance
When is Losoong celebrated?
Losoong falls in December, at the end of the harvest and the turn of the Sikkimese year. The Kagyed dance at the Tsuklakhang comes first, on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th Tibetan month, usually early December. Exact dates change every year. Check current status before you travel.
What is the Kagyed dance?
Kagyed is a masked dance performed by monks to destroy the obstacles of the old year before Losoong. In Gangtok, monks from Pemayangtse perform it at the Tsuklakhang Palace on the 28th and 29th days of the 10th Tibetan month, according to Wikipedia. Jesters appear between the serious dances.
Can tourists watch the Kagyed dance at the Tsuklakhang?
Usually yes, as respectful spectators, though space in the courtyard is limited and access arrangements can vary. Arrive early, follow instructions from organisers and police, stay out of the dance area and avoid flash. Dress modestly and keep your voice low during the ritual.
Is Losoong the same as Losar?
No. Losoong is the Sikkimese Bhutia new year and harvest festival in December. Losar is the Tibetan new year, in February or March, celebrated by Tibetan and many Sikkimese Buddhist families and marked at monasteries such as Rumtek. Both involve masked dances beforehand, which can cause confusion.
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Where it happens and how to get there
town
Gangtok1,650M
Gangtok
Sikkim's capital on a ridge at 1,650 m
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