Saga Dawa Tour is one of the most significant religious festivals in Tibetan Buddhism which is celebrated in honor of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death. This month-long festival takes place during the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, typically falling in May and June. The highlight of the festival is the full moon day when the devotees gather at temples, monasteries, and sacred sites to commemorate these key events in Buddha’s life, often through prayer, meditation, and making offering.
For many pilgrims, participating in the Saga Dawa tour is deeply spiritual journey that involves visiting sacred Tibetan Buddhist sites. These may include the famous Mount Kailash in western Tibet, one of the holiest mountains, as well as Lhasa, the spiritual heart of Tibet, where important ceremonies and rituals are held. Pilgrims typically undertake a Kora, a form of circumambulation around sacred places or objects, to accumulate merit and purify negative karma. This tour is not only a religious pilgrimage but also an opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of Tibet, with its unique blend of Buddhist traditions, art, and architecture.
During the Saga Dawa Tour, the atmosphere is vibrant and reverent, as pilgrims form all corner of the Tibetan plateau and beyond gather to participate in the ceremonies. The local communities often host festive activities, including traditional dances, music, and food offering, creating an atmosphere of communal celebration. The festival also emphasises and compassion, with many people engaging in acts of charity, such as giving alms to the poor or releasing captive animals as a symbolic gesture of liberation. For both locals and tourists, the Saga Dawa Tour is an unforgettable experience that offers a deep connection to Tibetan spirituality and culture.
Highlights
- deeply spiritual journey that involves visiting sacred Tibetan Buddhist sites
- experience the rich cultural heritage of Tibet, with its unique blend of Buddhist traditions, art, and architecture
- local communities often host festive activities, including traditional dances, music, and food offering
- unforgettable experience that offers a deep connection to Tibetan spirituality and culture