When is Barahimizong?
Barahimizong is observed on the fifth day of Mangar Purnima, which means it usually takes place in December in the western calendar.
Traditions of Barahimizong
Barahimizong is a festival observed by the Mangar Community in Sikkim. One of the most significant festivals for this tribe, it is celebrated as a day when Mangar people come together to pay homage to their forefathers and kuldevtaas (ancestral deities) by performing various religious rituals and rites.
In Mangar language 'Barahi' means God, 'Minaat' or 'Mi' means worship or prayer and 'Zong' means fort.
The ceremonies are followed by a number of cultural performances and on-the-spot competitions. Traditional Mangar food is also an integral part of the celebrations and provides for an exotic treat to avid foodies and gastronomes.
The first Barahimizong Festival was held in 1998 with the prime objective of keeping alive, the cultural and traditional heritage of the community. It was with the efforts of the “Akhil Sikkim Mangar Sangh (ASMS)” and the “State Government of Sikkim” that the festival was a great success at its first event itself.
Today, Barahimizong has reached even greater heights and provides for a wonderful spectacle of communal harmony in the state to the outsiders.
