Tendong Lho Rum Faat

When did the Tendong Lho Rum Faat start?

The first recorded date of Tendong Lho Rum Faat being celebrated on May 5 was in the year 17th century.

About Tendong Lho Rum Faat Festival

Tendong Lho Rum Faat is an annual harvest festival celebrated by the Lepchas of Sikkim, India. The celebrating of this festival is done on the first Thursday of July every year which marks the onset of the agricultural season. It is a day devoted to the glory of nature and has been celebrated in the state since the 17th century.

The festival includes a series of rituals like purifying the land of the harvest by wreath placing of the Tendong hill, followed by prayers to the Gods for their blessings for a good harvest during the season. The celebrations involve traditional dance and music performances and worship of the local deities. Other festivities include performing agrarian rituals in the fields, displaying traditional costumes, and sharing of traditional foods.

Introduction to the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Holiday

The Tendong Lho Rum Faat is a traditional religious holiday celebrated in both Bhutan and Nepal. The holiday is celebrated with much fanfare and enthusiasm, and it carries great spiritual significance for both countries’ indigenous populations. The Tendong Lho Rum Faat, which literally translates to “uprising of the sacred hill,” marks the beginning of the New Year in both countries and is observed annually on the same day. Originally brought from India centuries ago, this holiday is marked with colourful rituals, ceremonies and feasting. But in addition to its traditional religious aspects, today the Tendong Lho Rum Faat is also celebrated as a national holiday in both countries, as it is a key symbol of identity and solidarity.

History of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Festival

The Tendong Lho Rum Faat holiday has its origins in the ancient Hindu tradition of Diwa Hindu, which was brought to Bhutan and Nepal centuries ago. According to Hindu mythology, Diwa Hindu marks the end of the dark period of winter and the beginning of the warm, light period of spring. This is symbolized by the sun rising from the sacred mountain of Tendong Lho Rum Faat, thus marking the start of a new cycle.

Thus, during the Tendong Lho Rum Faat holiday, people of both Bhutan and Nepal gather in their respective villages to light bonfires and offer prayers to the mountain in hopes of a successful agricultural season ahead. As this is a period of transition from one cycle to another, many believers take this time to look forward to the future with the hope of achieving success and achieving their ambitions.

Celebration of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Festival in Bhutan

The Tendong Lho Rum Faat festival is celebrated for two days in the southern province of Bhutan. It begins on the 10th day of the eleventh month of the Bhutanese calendar and concludes the following day. On the eve of the festival, people gather near the foot of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat mountain and perform traditional offerings and rituals. These include making offerings of fruits, rice, and grains to the mountain, and lighting bonfires.

On the day of the festival, people make their way up the mountain and reach the summit where they finish their offerings and offer prayers of hope and gratitude. After offering their prayers, people join together in song and dance to celebrate the start of a new cycle. It is believed that praying and offering ceremony on the summit of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat mountain gives divine blessings to the entire country and its people.

Celebration of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Festival in Nepal

In Nepal, the Tendong Lho Rum Faat festival is celebrated for a period of three days. It begins on the day of the full moon at Kunkali, which marks the beginning of the 12th month of the Nepali calendar. On the eve of the festival, people offer prayers at local temples and light bonfires.

The following day marks the celebration of Tendong Lho Rum Faat itself. People make their way to the summit of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Mountain and offer special prayers to the gods and goddesses associated with the mountain. It is believed that these gods and goddesses bestowed agricultural wealth and fertility to the people in the past, and thus the day is marked with much festivity and offerings.

After making their offerings, people set firewood to light a huge bonfire, symbolizing the rising of the sun from the mountain. Everyone catches the firewood and jumps over the bonfires, for it is believed that doing so will help one achieve success and prosperity. The festival culminates with the distribution of food among family and friends, and the celebration of communal dances.

Conclusion

The Tendong Lho Rum Faat is a significant religious festival celebrated in both Bhutan and Nepal. A centuries-old tradition rooted in Indian mythology, it symbolizes the transition from one cycle to another, and is marked with many colourful rituals and ceremonies. In both countries, the Tendong Lho Rum Faat is marked with much enthusiasm and fanfare. People gather in their villages to light bonfires, offer prayers to the gods and goddesses associated with the Tendong Lho Rum Faat mountain, and celebrate this festival with song and dance. The Tendong Lho Rum Faat carries much spiritual and symbolic significance for the citizens of both countries, and continues to be celebrated as a national holiday today.

How to Say "Tendong Lho Rum Faat" In Different Languages?