Tendong Lho Rum Faat observed with traditional gaiety in the Capital

GANGTOK, August 08: Tendong Lho Rum Faat, the indigenous festival of the Lepchas was today celebrated with pomp and splendour at the Sikkim Government College auditorium with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chief guest here today.
The two-day festival, which commenced from August 7, also saw Bongthings offer prayers in honour of Mount Tendong and also for world peace and prosperity.
Talking about the importance of the festival, Norzang Lepcha, the president of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee said that the Lepchas worship Mt Tendong as their God. “On the occasion, the Lepchas make a model of the Mountain in the facade of their homes and worship. The mountain is exclusively made of nine stones and the people dance and sing donning mask seeking blessings of the Lord,” he explained.
CT Lepcha, the President of Renjong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum (RMRT) in his address said that a unique age-old ritual like the Rum Faat maintained by the Lepcha forefathers is a matter of great pride. He further said that the present government has been kind to give all the political and social rights to the Lepcha community.
RB Subba, the Chairman of the celebration committee said that the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has given equal importance to all the communities of Sikkim and has been able to maintain communal peace and harmony in the State. He also appealed the Lepchas not to get carried away by any attempts of creating communal disharmony through several issues.
In the meantime, the Tarjum felicitated the Chief Minister for his effort in exempting Central Income Tax for the Sikkim Subject holders.
During the programme, Tashi Tshering Lepcha was conferred with the Tendong Award for his outstanding contribution towards the upliftment of Lepcha culture, literature and tradition. Choda Lepcha received the citation and the award on behalf of his father.
Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association also felicitated Jeffrey Wangjong Lepcha with Mayal Marnew Award for his pro-active role towards the development of Lepcha Youth Association.
Tshering Ongmu Lepcha, a student of Padma Odzer Choeling School was honored with an award for securing highest marks in Lepcha language in class ten board examinations recently.
Lepcha cultural shows were also staged during the programme.

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Snake like fish caught in Singtam River

The Indian mottled eel, locally known as Raj Bam, was recovered from the Singtam River at Golitar this early morning. The snake-like fish weighed around 7 kg and was four feet long. The local people said that they had never seen this species for so long. Such mysterious-looking marine fish are also sighted from time to time on the river banks, local people added.

Sikkim Mahinda Thero: A national hero of Sri Lanka

Sikkim Mahinda Thero BY SHITAL PRADHAN I first heard about S Mahinda Thero in 2005 while in Kolkata when I was asked by one of the stamp dealers whether I was interested in a 20 paisa stamp of S Mahinda Thero issued by the Sri Lankan Postal Department in the early 1970s. I collected philatelic items on Buddhism, but I never understood who he was talking about. He told me, as I was from Sikkim, I might be interested to know more about the person, and he went on to add it was Sikkim Mahinda Thero, a Buddhist monk who is regarded as a national hero, a famous poet in the Sinhalese language whose poetry promoted patriotism and the revival of Buddhism to this part of the Island. He promised to send me the stamp of S Mahinda Thero from Colombo through the mail, but I have never heard from him since then. However, regarding my limited concern, it was enough to know that such a person keeps the name Sikkim with honor and pride in Sri Lanka. I had the name...

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 ...

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

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