Silver Jubilee Celebration of Sikkim Newar Guthi

11.11.19: A two-month-long event to commemorate the completion of 25 years of existence of Sikkim Newar Guthi concluded yesterday. A number of events such as Newar Folk Dance, Newar Musical Instrument, State Level Open Talent Hunt and Bhaju & Maeju Sikkim Competitions were organized. Cleanliness Drive and Awareness programmes were held at various Sakha levels on 2nd October 2019.

The Grand Finale of all the competitions were held at Manan Bhawan on 9th November 2019 and was graced upon by the Hon’ble Minister, Buildings & Transport, Shri Sanjit Kharel as the Chief guest. 7 teams under Newar dance, 4 individual performances under Newar Instrument, 18 participants under State Level Open Talent Hunt and 10 competitors each under Bhaju and Maeju Sikkim competed for the most coveted trophies.

Newa Bhay Bowneykuthi, Singtam won the 1st prize in the Newar Dance competition, while Rongli and Timberbong Sakha won the 2nd and 3rd prize respectively. Babita Pradhan of Rongli won the 1st prize in the Newar Instrument Competition. The title of Bhaju and Maeju Sikkim was conferred on Pragesh Pradhan, Ravangla and Rabina Pradhan, Singtam respectively.

The first prize in the Open Talent Hunt Competition was awarded to Anand Gurung (Rapper), while the 2nd and 3rd prize was won by Sneha Bansal (Dancing) and Milan Bishwakarma (Singing) respectively. Six consolations prizes were also awarded. Amidst these, EMRS School Gangyap made a scintillating Choir performance which left the entire crowd awed by the level of talent of these tribal students.

The Grand programme was organized on 10th November 2019. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri P.S. Tamang (Golay) could not attend the function due to his pre-occupation and he was represented by Shri Arun Upreti, Hon'ble Minister, Urban Development & Food as the Chief Guest. On this occasion, Founder Pioneers and Founder Members were felicitated for the contribution and pain they took to establish this Great Institute.

Advisory Council members, past and present Executive members, and Zonal Presidents were also felicitated for their contribution to the cause of Newars of Sikkim. For their outstanding contribution in the field of language, culture, tradition and food, Dentam, Melli and Singtam Sakha Guthis were felicitated with Citations.

Academic excellence in Class X was given to Master Pravesh Pradhan, Tadong and in Class XII to Master Kshitij Pradhan, Dentam. Silver Jubilee Edition Souvenir magazine “Smarika”, Quarterly Magazine “PAU”, Commercial pickles as well as the website of Sikkim Newar Guthi “www.sikkimnewarguthi.org” was launched by the Chief Guest.

The celebrations ended with Grand Musical Evening being organized at Manan Bhawan on both 9th and 10th November 2019. Renowned artists with the likes of Suresh Kumar, Pushpan Pradhan, Banika Pradhan, Remanti Rai among others made sparkling performances which left the entire crowd overwhelmed and delighted.

The events were graced upon by the Hon’ble Minister, Forest, Shri Karma Loday Bhutia and Hon’ble Minister, Education and Land Revenue, Shri Kunga Nima Lepcha as Chief guests respectively. The entire two-month-long events were held in a most eco-friendly manner without the use of plastics and other non-biodegradable substances.

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 ...

Pandam Garhi and its surmise

--> RUINS OF PANDAM GARHI BY SHITAL PRADHAN The stories of the legendary ruined walls at Pandam, a 16 km uphill climb from Rangpo, as I had heard from old folks a few seasons back, had ever since excited me to visit this place. Never in the pages of a history book do we come across its talk about when it was built or how it was constructed at the top of the hill? Over the years, many theories have evolved regarding its origin. Some theorists associate the fort with some Lepcha legends, while few disagree with it and have their own adage. They make us believe one of the Chogyals constructed it to stop the approaching Bhutanese army from entering Sikkim. The last theory to add up, already baffling and controversial, says it was one of the Gurkha Generals from Nepal who constructed the fort along with the Kalika Mandir, also called Nishani Mandir, just below it. With each theory making questions over my mind, I decided to have my second trek to the Pandam Garhi. I had ...

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

Search This Blog