Gorsam Kora Festival

About Gorsam Kora Festival

• It is held in Arunachal Pradesh’s Zeminthang Valley along the Nyanmjang Chu River.
• History
  • This annual festival is held at Gorsam Chorten, a 93 feet tall Stupa, built during 13th century AD by a local monk- Lama Pradhar.
  • This is also the place where the 14th Dalai Lama had his first rest after fleeing from Tibet in 1959.
  • It features cultural performances and Buddhist rituals at the Gorsam Chorten, which is older than the Tawang Monastery.
• Many devotees including a large number of Bhutanese nationals visit during Gorsam Kora festival to celebrate the virtuous occasion during the last day of the first month of the Lunar calendar.
• It attracted pilgrims and Lamas from Bhutan, Tawang, and neighbouring regions, epitomising the spirit of camaraderie and cultural exchange.
• The festival featured a diverse array of events, including enthralling performances by local cultural troupes and by the Indian army bands, martial performances like Mallakhamb and Zanjh Pathaka.

Q1) What is Mahayana Buddhism?

Mahayana Buddhism is the largest Buddhist sect in the world, and its beliefs and practices are what most non-adherents recognize as “Buddhism” in the modern era. It developed as a school of thought sometime after 383 BCE, possibly from the earlier school known as Mahasanghika, though that claim has been challenged.

Source: What you need to know about Gorsam kora festival in Tawang