Losoong
December, first day of the eleventh Tibetan month
Losoong falls on the first day of the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar, usually in December. It marks the end of the harvest, when farmers have stored their grain and can celebrate. It is a festival of the Bhutia people, adapted from the traditions of Losar, and the Lepchas mark it too under the name Namsoong. In Gangtok it follows close on the Kagyed dances at Tsuklakhang.
The festival is preceded by masked dances at monasteries such as Phodong and Rumtek, depicting stories of Guru Padmasambhava. On the day, an offering of chi-fut, a special drink, is made to the gods and an effigy of the demon king is burned. Then the social side begins: families visit each other, share feasts of meat, local greens and chhang, and there are archery contests in many villages.
For visitors, December gives cold, clear weather and quieter hotels than the October rush. Losoong is partly a home festival, so the public parts to look for are the monastery dances, community events in Gangtok and archery matches. Ask your hotel or driver which ones are open to visitors that year.
How to do it well
- Ask locally about archery contests, which are lively and usually happy to have quiet spectators.
- Losoong is a public holiday in Sikkim, so expect some government offices and shops to close.
- Pair Losoong with a Tsomgo Lake day trip for snow, but keep a buffer day in case the road shuts.
Questions people ask
Good to know
What is Losoong festival in Sikkim
Losoong, also called Sonam Losoong, is the harvest festival and new year of the Bhutia community of Sikkim, celebrated in December on the first day of the eleventh Tibetan month. The Lepchas celebrate it as Namsoong. It involves monastery dances beforehand, burning an effigy of evil, family feasts and traditional sports such as archery.
Is Losoong the same as Losar
No. Losar is the Tibetan new year in February or March. Losoong is the Sikkimese farmers' new year in December, after the harvest. The festival borrows some rituals from Losar, such as offerings and the burning of effigies, but it is a distinct Sikkimese celebration, especially among the Bhutia and Lepcha communities.
Where can tourists see Losoong celebrations
Look for masked dances at monasteries such as Phodong and Rumtek in the days before Losoong, and for the Kagyed dances at Tsuklakhang in Gangtok just before it. On and after the day, many villages hold archery contests and community events. Much of Losoong is celebrated at home, so ask your hotel or driver what is open to visitors.
Is December a good month for Gangtok
Yes, for clear views and value. December is dry and cold, about 5–15 °C in the day, with good Kangchenjunga views in the mornings. Hotels are quieter than in October and rates soften, except around Christmas and New Year. Snow can close the roads to Tsomgo and Nathu La for a few days, so check current status before you travel.
Festival journeys
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