Tendong Lho Rumfaat
8 August every year
According to Lepcha belief, in ancient times a great flood covered the land, and the Lepcha ancestors climbed Tendong Hill, near Namchi in South Sikkim, which rose above the water and saved them. Tendong Lho Rumfaat, meaning the prayer of the Tendong mountain, gives thanks to the mountain as their saviour. It is held on 8 August and is a state holiday in Sikkim.
Lepcha communities across Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong mark the day with prayers led by Lepcha priests, cultural programmes, traditional dress and food. In Dzongu, the Lepcha reserve, it is a day when villages gather and the old stories are told again, including the folklore of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers that runs through Lepcha culture.
August is monsoon season, and the road to Mangan and Dzongu can be blocked by landslides. If you are in Sikkim on 8 August and want to see the festival, ask your Dzongu homestay well ahead whether a gathering is planned in their area and whether the road is open. Check current status before you travel.
How to do it well
- Ask your homestay in advance where the nearest community gathering will be.
- Carry rain gear and leech socks; August is the heart of the monsoon.
- Ask before photographing prayers or elders in traditional dress.
Questions people ask
Good to know
When is Tendong Lho Rumfaat
Tendong Lho Rumfaat is celebrated every year on 8 August, a fixed date, and is a state holiday in Sikkim. Lepcha communities in Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong mark it with prayers, cultural programmes and traditional dress and food.
What is the story behind Tendong Lho Rumfaat
Lepcha belief holds that during a great flood, their ancestors climbed Tendong Hill near Namchi, which rose above the water and saved them. The festival thanks the mountain as their saviour. It also celebrates the folklore of the Teesta and Rangeet rivers. It is a living tradition of faith.
Can tourists attend Tendong Lho Rumfaat in Dzongu
Visitors staying in Dzongu homestays are often welcome to watch community gatherings respectfully. You need a Dzongu permit, arranged through your homestay. August is monsoon, so roads may be blocked; confirm plans with your hosts and check current status before you travel.
Where else is Tendong Lho Rumfaat celebrated
Across Lepcha communities in Sikkim, including Gangtok and around Tendong Hill near Namchi, and in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills of West Bengal. Larger public programmes are often held in towns, while village observances in places like Dzongu are smaller and more personal.