KALEZ VALLEY CARNIVAL BLENDS CULTURE AND ECSTASY

via Sikkim Express

HEE BERMOIK, May 11: Torrential rain – clumsy weather, yet spirits high at celebration premises. So came the second day of Kalez Valley Heritage Festival 2007 here at Hee Kyang Bari marking the inauguration of the impressive Chaya Tal Lake.

As against Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s failure to attend the second day of the fest because of ill health, the Chaya Tal Lake was formally inaugurated today by the chief guest SB Subedi, Minister for Forest accompanied by area MLA NK Subba. Chaya Tal is reportedly the second artificial lake in Sikkim after Lampokhari at Aritar attracting mammoth numbers of tourists lately.

“We are heading towards a sustainable tourism development, simultaneously solving the problem of unemployment. The boats in the lake will add an extra boost to our vision” said NK Subba speaking to Sikkim Express today.

Meanwhile, the chief guest SB Subedi voiced Hee-Bermiok as a perfect place for village tourism with other value-added tourism activities. “Nestled in the lap of bountiful nature, undoubtedly this place will be an ideal tourist destination in future,” he said. Calling for sustainable development with equal emphasis on the conservation of the environment, Subedi remarked the three festivals were a perfect blend of culture, music and joy.

A ceremony today witnessed the presentation of appointment letters to the four newly selected advisors for Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society, TR Poudyal (former Secretary), SD Dhakal (JS Culture), Raj Basu (Tourism) and PK Dong (Executive Director to Tourism).

The chief guest also handed over cash payment for vermin-compose, compose pit, water harvesting tank and terracing along with the distribution of work order for the greenhouse. The winners of the marathon were also handed over with trophies, cash prizes and certificates.

A colourful cultural presentation on traditional themes was made during the event today by students of various schools. Delighted at participating in the festival, a tourist from the USA Mark Taylor summed up the fest as, “A perfect place to be with an enterprising development in tourism expansion and tradition conservation”.

The last day of the festival is scheduled to witness one-of-its-kind adventure sport – Mountain Biking.

This was seen on the second day of the Kalez Valley Heritage Festival 2007 here at Hee Kyang Bari under Hee- Bermiok constituency. The Chief Minister Dr Pawan Chamling who was supposed to consent to the second-day celebration could not make it out owing to his ill health. Organized by Hee Bermiok Tourism Development and Heritage Conservation Society for three consecutive years SB Subedi, Minister for Forest along with RB Subba, Minister for Tourism attended the festivity as chief guest and guests of honor respectively.

JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT

This was a national song of Sikkim sung in the Nepali language during the monarchy system. During the merger with India, the song got banned and later re-released. Two words on the 8th para, which earlier said 'Rajah rah Rani,' were replaced with "Janmah bhumi." This song was dedicated to the King and Queen of Sikkim. The song lyrics were penned by Sanu Lama, and the music was composed by Dushyant Lama. The song was first sung on the birth anniversary of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on April 4, 1970, at Gangtok by Aruna Lama, Dawa Lama, and Manikamal Chettri. JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT, JAHAN KANCHENDZONGA SEER YEHI HO HAMRO DHANA KO DESH, TAPAWAN HO PYARO SIKKIM INTERLUDE PHULCHAN YEHA AANGANAI MAA, CHAAP , GURAS, SUNAKHARI SWARGASARI SUNDAR DESH KO HAMRO PYARO PYARO JANMAHBHUMI JANHA BAGCHA…… BATASHLE BOKCHAA YAHA, TATHAGAT KO AAMAR WAANI ...

CLARITY ON CITIZENSHIP (Indian of Sikkimese Origin)

from Sikkim Online CLARITY ON CITIZENSHIP Indian of Sikkimese Origin On 26th April 1975, Sikkim was appointed as 22nd state of India. On that day, Sikkim Citizens, Subject holder (Sikkimese) became Indian Citizen according to “Sikkim (Citizenship) Order, 1975” which says “Every person who immediately before the 26th day of April, 1975 was a Sikkim Subject under the Sikkim Subject Regulation 1961, shall be deemed to have become a citizen of India on that day”. As the Indian Constitution does not provide dual citizenship and there exist only citizenship for the whole of country, therefore, the regulation which provided Sikkim Citizenship (Subjects) commonly known as “Sikkim Subject Regulation Act, 1961” was repealed on 13th Sep 1975 according to “Adaptation of Sikkim Laws (No.1) Order” power conferred by clause (l) of Article 371-F of the Constitution which took effect from 26th April 1975 (appointed day). A million dollar question arises here. Who were Sikkim...

The last Chogyal (King) of Sikkim

BY SHITAL PRADHAN I was not born when Sikkim became the 22nd state of the Indian Union, and the only information I have about the political identity of my Sikkim comes from literary knowledge and conversations with elderly people. I personally believe that no nation can develop unless its history, culture, and heritage are preserved. Sikkim, though now part of India, bears the responsibility of every Sikkimese to safeguard its past glory. Interestingly, a few days ago, my college-going nephew surprised me when he mentioned that a man named STNM could be the last Chogyal, while one of my colleagues added that TNA and TNSSS also bear the name of the last Chogyal. Well, is this the future of Sikkim? If we cannot enable the younger generation to connect with the facts and authenticity of Sikkim, the state will surely lose its vivacious historical pages. Twenty-five long years have passed since the passing away of the last Chogyal of Sikkim, Late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal. Apart fr...

Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

Search This Blog