Saga Dawa 2025 Results

The First Edition

The inaugural Saga Dawa Running Festival, held on the sacred occasion of Saga Dawa month and organized by Thekchhen Pema Chholing Monastery, brought together hundreds of runners, monks, locals, artists, and visitors in a remarkable fusion of physical endurance, spiritual practice, and cultural celebration.

Day 1 – May 10, 2025: Community Day

The festival commenced with a vibrant 5KM Community Fun Run, where over 500 participants—children, youth, elders, and families—donned race bibs and joined hands in the spirit of wellness and community, cheered on by more than 300 enthusiastic spectators.

The day officially opened with auspicious performances, including:

• Tibetan Lion Dance

• Traditional Yak Dance

• Sherpa Syafru Dance

These sacred and joyful expressions set the tone for a day of unity and cultural pride.

Cultural Highlights

Throughout the day, attendees experienced:

• A guided meditation session by Ishwor Chandra Vidyasagar, a Harvard-educated Buddhist dharma teacher, focusing on mindfulness and spiritual grounding.
  
  

• A mesmerizing Cultural Fashion Show, choreographed by celebrity modeling guru Bishal Gurung, showcasing traditional attire from over seven ethnic groups. Children and women walked the ramp with elegance and grace, embodying the heritage of the Himalayas.
  
  

• Sherpa food stalls, offering authentic cuisine and community warmth.
  
  

As the sun set, a race briefing was held for the competitive runners of the next day's long-distance events, setting the tone for what would be a physically and spiritually testing second day.

Day 2 – May 11, 2025: Race Day

Competitive runners gathered early at Thekchhen Pema Chholing Monastery for the start of the 11K Heritage Run, 21K Half Marathon, and the challenging 42K Full Marathon.

42K Full Marathon

A total of 15 elite runners took on this high-altitude ultramarathon, navigating a sacred and scenic route from Salleri to:

• Tubtenchoeling Monastery

• Serlo Monastery

• Junbesi Monastery
  ...and back, traversing remote valleys, ridges, and trails steeped in spiritual power.
  
  

Please click on the link for the results on ITRA and UTMB World Series event page.

1st Edition Full Marathon Record Time : 3 hours 19 minutes 08 seconds!

21K Half Marathon

17 runners competed from Salleri through Beni to Chiwong Monastery, passing through the Phera Stupa and then descending through village trails back to Thekchhen Gumba. This technical course tested both agility and strength.

Click on the link for half marathon results

1st Edition Half Marathon Record Time : 1 hour 40 minutes 04 seconds!

11K Heritage Trail Run

Launched as the Salleri Heritage Route, the 11K race invited runners to explore:

Guru Rinpoche Monastery
Mentopak Monastery
Chyalsa Monastery
...as well as several revived heritage sites, showcasing the deep spiritual legacy of the region.