Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche to preside over Saga Dawa celebration at Tathagata Tsal, Rabong

GANGTOK, 09 June: This Saga Dawa, the 12th Goshir Gyaltsab Rinpoche will preside over a homage ritual and offer pujas to the Sixteen Elders, Dharma Teaching and Sakyamuni Buddha Empowerment at the Tathagata Tsal,  Rabong in South Sikkim.
The triple blessed auspicious day in the lunar calendar, related to the life of the Buddha falls on June 13 this year. The holy day which corresponds to the full-moon day-night of Saga Dawa, considered the holiest day of the holiest month in the lunar year for followers of Lord Gautama Buddha.
As per a press release, the Ringsel Zekha (public darshan) of the sacred relics of the Buddha at the cylindrical sanctum sanctorum and Bum Kor at the Outer and Inner Parikrama (Kora) of the statue will also be held on the occasion. The administration at Tathagata Tsal and Mane Choekerling Management and Development Committee (MCDMC) invites devotees, pilgrims, scholars and general public to attend this auspicious program.
The Homage and Offering rituals to the Sixteen Elders will commence at 9:30 a.m.
This festival is considered as one of the holiest Buddhist festival for the Mahayana Buddhists. On this day devotees visit monasteries and worship and offer butter lamps.
Three important events connected to the life of Buddha are celebrated to mark the holiest day of Saga Dawa. The events are the Birth of Lord Siddhartha Gautama Buddha at Lumbini, Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya and when he attained Buddhahood and his Parinirvana at Kushinagar, the death of Lord Buddha or attaining Nirvana.
This festival is celebrated on the full moon day of the 4th month of Buddhist lunar calendar which falls around the end of May and early June just during the spring season. This festival is celebrated with processions of the shrine/statues of Lord Buddha and the holy Buddhist texts and teachings. The holy activities for all sentient beings last through the whole month where slaughter and sale of meat is prohibited.