Festival · Dzongu
Kamsel at Tholung Monastery
Every three years, the sacred relics hidden at Tholung Monastery in upper Dzongu during the Gorkha invasions are taken out of their sealed boxes, aired and shown to the public. Pilgrims walk in from across Sikkim for the Kamsel ceremony.
Tholung Monastery, built in 1789 in remote upper Dzongu, became a refuge in the late 18th century when Gorkha armies from Nepal invaded Sikkim. Manuscripts, images and relics from other monasteries were carried to Tholung for safekeeping, along with a metal chorten holding the ashes of an incarnation of Lhatsun Chenpo. They have been kept in more than a dozen sealed boxes ever since.
Because of the damp forest climate, the relics are taken out once every three years to be aired and sunned. This is the Kamsel ceremony, held in April and supervised by the Sikkim government's Ecclesiastical Department, whose role began in the 1940s. During Kamsel the relics are displayed to worshippers, who come from all over Sikkim, many walking the last stretch through the forest.
It is a pilgrimage rather than a festival with dances. Facilities are basic and crowded. Plan through a Dzongu homestay, which can advise on permits, transport and the walk in. The Kamsel year and dates must be confirmed in advance; check current status before you travel.
Tips
- Confirm the Kamsel year and dates with a Dzongu homestay or Sikkim Tourism well in advance.
- Get your Dzongu permit early; demand rises in a Kamsel year.
- Walk slowly, carry water and a rain jacket, and wear leech socks on the forest path.
Most hill festivals follow lunar calendars, so dates move each year. Check current status before you travel.
Questions people ask
Good to know
What is the Kamsel ceremony?
Kamsel is the airing and public display of the sacred relics kept at Tholung Monastery in upper Dzongu. Held every three years in April, it lets the damp-sensitive relics be ventilated and allows pilgrims to see and be blessed by them. The Ecclesiastical Department of Sikkim oversees it.
How often is the Tholung Kamsel held?
Once every three years, in April. The precise dates follow the Tibetan calendar and are announced in advance. Ask a Dzongu homestay or Sikkim Tourism which year the next Kamsel falls in and check current status before you travel.
Can tourists attend the Tholung Kamsel?
Respectful visitors with a valid Dzongu permit can usually attend, but it is a religious occasion, crowded and basic. Plan transport and the walk in through a homestay, dress modestly and follow the monks' instructions on photography.
How do I reach Tholung Monastery for Kamsel?
From Mangan, cross into Dzongu with your permit and travel by car up the upper Dzongu road, then walk the last stretch through forest. Roads and paths change after landslides, so a local guide from your homestay is the best plan.