Phang Lhabsol (Aug) is one of the important festival for the people of Sikkim. This beautiful hill town of Sikkim on this auspicious day worships the towering snow capped Kanchenjungha also called Kanchendzonga. This festival is a unique festival of Sikkim.
This festival is also celebrated to commemorate the signing of the treaty of brotherhood between the Lepchas and the Bhutias by Khye Bumsa and Tetong Tek when the local deities were invoked to be a part of this occasion.
The word Phang in Phang Lhabsol means witness. It is believed that the deities witness this event and are a part of the celebration. The day is celebrated by colorful masked dances by the Lamas which depict the deities. There festival mood also builds with the jesters performing different antics. The jesters are called Atchars which play their funny role during Chaam dances.
The festival was popularized by Chakdor Namgyal, the third Chogyal of Sikkim. He even introduced the Pang Toed dance done by the monks on this day.
The Festival is held in August. A week before the festival commences the monks start their prayers at Tsuklakhang. The prayers are offered to worship Kanchendzonga.
