Views
Bumchu
"Bum" means pot or vase and "chu" means water. The Buddhist community of Sikkim celebrates this festival with great religious festivity at Tashiding Monastery in the month of January-February. Bumchu celebration is one of the most important and holiest event in Sikkim, thousands of devotees from all over the state and draws thousands of people from Bhutan, Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and surrounding places, who come to pilgrimage and participate in this holy occasion. The Bum is believed to be made of sacred soil, water and other five precious jewels collected from holy areas of the Earth.
Ritual Process
The Bum Vase containing holy water, is kept in a miniature mansion (Chosham) under lock and seal. Every year special recitation is conducted and the high officials and Lama check the seal before the vase is taken out of the mansion. The vase is opened on the night of the 4th day of the fist month of Tibetan Almanac. From the Vase three cups of water is first taken out and is distributed among the lamas and devotees on the full moon day. Fresh water is bought from Rathong Chuk, which is also considered as a blessed river. Sometimes the Holy water in the Vase increases or decreases, and some cases the water remains in same level or may be sometimes dusty. These are beleived to be predictions of auspicious and inauspicious occurrences in Sikkim. Dusty water indicates conflicts and unrest, while increased water gives the sign of prosperity and vice versa.