31th May Sagadawa Festival 2026

Posted by: Alpine Excursion Treks   Posted Date: January 05, 2026

31th May Sagadawa Festival 2026

The Complete Guide to the 2026 Saga Dawa Festival and Tour Scheduling  

On the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, when the star of Saga appears in the sky, people celebrate the Saga Dawa Festival.

In the Solar Calendar, it typically occurs in May or June. On May 31, 2026, the Saga Dawa Festival will take place.

In addition to the most significant day, the Saga Dawa Festival will be celebrated for a month in Tibet with a variety of events and celebrations.

The Saga Dawa Festival: What is it? Tibet's Most Important Religious Festival

The Saga Dawa Festival is one of Tibet's most important celebrations, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of Shakyamui Buddha.

As a primary expression of Tibetan religious culture and spirit, it encourages compassion, nonviolence, and spiritual practice.

Pilgrims earn virtue by doing kora around sacred sites, releasing animals, giving alms, and lighting candles in monasteries throughout the festival.

It is an excellent time to experience Tibet's spiritual strength and religious culture, particularly through a visit to Mount Kailash.

When is the Saga Dawa Festival? May 31, 2026 (For one month)

The Saga Dawa Festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar, when the Saga star shines in the sky.

Typically, it falls in May or June on the Solar Calendar. The next Saga Dawa Festival will be held on May 31, 2026.

Aside from the most important day, the Saga Dawa Festival will extend a month and include a variety of ceremonies and events around Tibet.

What to Do in Saga Dawa Festival? More Than Just Koras

Taking a Kailash Kora or circumambulating other sacred locations around the plateau is the main activity during the Saga Dawa Festival.

However, there are more methods to commemorate this most spiritual holiday in Tibet and call it the 'Month of Merits'.

For Tibetans, the Saga Dawa Festival has long been a time to give alms to the poor, refrain from harming animals, and release captured creatures (such as fish) back into their native habitats with heartfelt prayer

One of the most significant celebrations in Tibet is the Saga Dawa Festival, which honors Shakyamui Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana.

It is a fundamental manifestation of Tibetan religious culture and spirit, emphasizing spiritual practice, compassion, and abstinence from killing.

Saga Dawa Festival at Mount Kailash: The Heart of the Celebrations!

During the Saga Dawa Festival, pilgrims gather at Mount Kailash, the spiritual center of the universe in Tibetan Buddhism.

One of the most significant pilgrimages in Asia is the Kailash Kora. One kora near Mount Kailash is thought to atone for this lifetime's sins, 108 koras end the cycle of rebirth, and guarantee nirvana upon death.

 Kailash Kora is performed during the Saga Dawa Festival because it is said that good deeds and prayers offered during this holy time are multiplied a thousandfold, making it a genuinely fulfilling pilgrimage.

The construction of a new flagpole at Tarboche at Mount Kailash on the fifteenth day of the fourth month in the Tibetan calendar is another feature of the Saga Dawa Festival. In addition to participating in the annual ritual, pilgrims from all directions can do kora around the new flagpole.

Following the Kailash Kora, pilgrims always go to Lake Manasarovar for a spiritual stroll and to touch the lake's sacred water, which is thought to cleanse sins and purify the soul.

How to Arrange a Saga Dawa Festival Tour in 2026? Book in Advance for the Year of the Horse

The date of the upcoming Saga Dawa Festival is May 31, 2026. Additionally, this year is significant for Kailash Kora since it is the year of the horse.

In the year of the Horse, pilgrims think that one kora around Mount Kailash is equal to thirteen koras in a normal year. Therefore, the best time to visit Mount Kailash would be in 2026.

It is best to plan your travel as early as possible to guarantee a seamless tour to Mount Kailash during the 2026 Saga Dawa Festival. You must reserve your 2026 Saga Dawa Festival excursion to Mount Kailash in advance due to the limited availability of lodging, transportation, and tour guides.

We manage hundreds of visitors to Mount Kailash for the Saga Dawa celebration every year. With a guaranteed Tibet Travel Permit, we at Tibet Vista, the premier Tibet travel company, make sure your trip to Mount Kailash for the Saga Dawa Festival goes well. Please get in touch with us if you have any travel suggestions for the upcoming Saga Dawa Festival.

Insider Tips for a Hassle-free Saga Dawa Festival Tour in Tibet

To enter Tibet, one must have both a Tibet travel permit and a Chinese visa. Additionally, you must request for a military permit to enter the Ngari region if you intend to attend the Saga Dawa Festival at Mount Kailash. Processing all of these required travel paperwork takes more time. Therefore, it is advised to reserve your Mount Kailash Saga Dawa Festival tour at least 30 days in advance.

There will be a lot of pilgrims and visitors during the Saga Dawa Festival, so please be ready for the masses. In order to stay ahead, please pay close attention to your guide.

At an average elevation of more than 4,500 meters, the Ngari region experiences relatively mild temperatures even though the Saga Dawa Festival usually takes place in May or June. The temperature is just about 17°C even during the day. To be warm during your Kailash kora, you must pack a down jacket that is windproof.

There aren't many lodging options in the Mount Kailash region. There aren't any star-rated hotels near the Kora Trail, and you typically have to share a dorm with other travelers.

Mount Kailash can be reached by land via the Gyirong border from Lhasa or Kathmandu. The quickest route, which takes about ten days, is from Kathmandu to Mount Kailash if you don't wish to see other Tibetan sights.

More Fun Facts about Saga Dawa Festival,

Another name for the Saga Dawa Festival is "the Poor's Day." It is commonly known that Tibetans are kind to the underprivileged. Additionally, the Saga Dawa Festival is the best day to do good deeds. Tibetans think that by being generous on that day, it would accrue enormous virtues.

During the month of Saga Dawa, many Tibetans willingly give up meat and eat vegetarian food; local eateries have even started serving vegetarian meals in an effort to accrue virtue and lessen killing.

The only celebration in Tibetan Buddhism that honors Buddha Sakyamuni's birth, enlightenment, and nirvana all at once is the Saga Dawa Festival. According to Tibetans, merit can be multiplied a thousandfold by performing good activities during this month.

Conclusion,

One of the most important and auspicious religious ceremonies in Tibet is the Saga Dawa Festival, which attracts pilgrims from all over the world in addition to locals.

We advise scheduling your trip with us as soon as possible to get the most out of the Saga Dawa Festival.

Our Tibet Festival Tours provide you an opportunity to see this distinctive culture and witness locals celebrate their most significant religious holiday.

In addition to witnessing the magnificent Buddhist events, you can participate in the kora and prayers to experience the kindness and devotion of Tibetan culture.