Indra Jatra's celebration over the years had brought every newar family of Sikkim under one roof. It was that one-day entire newar population within the state anxiously waits. But this year the Covid-19 pandemic had a different plan for everyone. This August 31, we have the Indra Jatra but it will be silently observed without the red-black-white coloured masses of devotees.
Sikkim Newar Guthi completed the 25th year of its formation last year and on this big occasion; I wish to share the history of my home town Singtam’s Newa Sakha, its origin, and stories so far. The term 'Singtam Sakha' started in the early 90s and over the years it has its own narrative. Blessed by Goddess Kumari and God Indra, the newars of Singtam are among the emerging Sakhas who hold promises to make the Newars of Sikkim, a proud family.
The establishments of the Singtam bazaar date back to the late 1880s and with each decade passing by the people of Singtam had collectively come together in all social causes with other communities to build up a better society. The initial years of Bhanu Jayanti celebrations, Independence Day celebrations, Saga Dawa celebrations, and others had equal numbers of Newar participation. Despite no proper organization, the newars of Singtam had been performing their respective rituals in full newar tradition.
With the coming up of Sikkim Newar Guthi in the early 90s, the newar communities of Singtam to felt a need of forming an organization thus Singtam Newar Guthi was born. Late Dil Bahadur Pradhan was the first President of the Singtam organization while Subhash Pradhan was made Secretary. Meetings and discussions about the development of the newar society were held behind the four walls. An old folk says those newars thou lesser in population than started the practice of visiting the funerals among the Newar community in groups which still exists to this day. Giving helping hands during the marriage ceremony be it Ihi was also done by those pioneer thoughts.
With the wheel of a clock passing by, the year 2009 proved to be a significant one for the Newars of Singtam. A meeting was held on December 21, 2009, at Bihari Dharamsala at Singtam. The committee formed on that day decided to re-name the organization as Singtam Newar Kalyan Sangathan. One of the many resolutions passed in the meeting included; the presence and involvement of the Newari women from Singtam in the organization. TB Pradhan was nominated the President.
Singtam Newar Kalyan Sangathan did the first in the state when they felicitated five Singtam Nagar Panchayats on June 6th, 2010. The function also marked the first cultural presentation of the famed Lakhey Dance of the Newar community performed at Singtam by Bikash Pradhan. The Sangathan made their presence at the Annual General Meeting cum Election of the Executive body of Sikkim Newa Guthi (September 11th, 2010) held at Gangtok. The new team of central guthi was congratulated. Sangathan's President assured full support in any sort of program organized by the central committee for the development of Newar society.
There was a meeting held in early 2011 and it was decided to buy utensils and chairs in the name of Sangathan that would be used by the members of the organization. The collection was made; a few members of SKNS travelled to Siliguri and bought the items, and a room was hired to keep the utensils.
Newars of Singtam participated in large numbers at the India Jatra 2011 held at Gangtok. Since then, the Newars of Singtam had been actively participating and contributing to the Indra Jatras held in a different part of Sikkim. At the same event held at Sikkim Government College Auditorium, Tadong, seven Newar personalities were felicitated on that evening. Among one of them was me, felicitated for my contribution towards Sikkim Heritage through my blog Proud to be a Sikkimese.
In between the years, Singtam Newar Kalyan Sangathan continued with their social activities. They collected the sum of Rs 20,500 for Santa Bahadhur Pradhan, a resident of Bardang, for his medical treatment of throat cancer. SKNS again came forward for the medical contribution of a Lepcha lady, in Incharge of Lee Al then. The sum of Rs 10,000 was contributed.
With the expansion of Zones among the Sikkim Newar Guthi, a meeting was held at Singtam that was attended by the Executive members of Sikkim Newar Guthi, TB Pradhan was elected the first President of Rangpo - Singtam Zone (September 5, 2013). Mohan Pradhan ‘Neeraj’ was nominated the President of Singtam Newar Kalyan Sangathan. In the same meeting, SNKS placed a proposal to the Central Body to celebrate the Indra Jatra 2013 at Singtam.
In 2013 (June 25), the members of SNKS attended the Annual General Meeting cum Election of the Executive body of Sikkim Newa Guthi at Chintan Bhawan, Gangtok. They congratulated Rohit Kumar Pradhan for being elected President for the third term.
The biggest news for the Newars of Singtam came in August 2014; the central committee accepted the proposal of SKNS for organizing Indra Jatra 2014 at Singtam.
On a red-letter day September 8, 2014, Singtam took the honour to receive Goddess Kumari other than Gangtok for the first time. State Level Indra Jatra Celebration held at Singtam marked a historic moment. The Indra Jatra event was organized by Sikkim Newar Guthi and hosted by Indra Jatra Celebration Committee 2014, Singtam.
The festivity was held in two phases; the morning (the ritual) session and the noon (cultural) session. Somnath Poudhyal, then Area MLA cum Minister, Food Security & Agriculture & AHVS was the Chief Guest of the morning session that included Indra Rath Poojan and Kumari Jatra. The puja was performed by Parampujiya Guruji Shri Shri Suryabir Tuladhar from Swayambu Mandir, Gangtok. Thousands of Newars from different corners of the state had visited Singtam, the venue of the event.
The afternoon session started with the arrival of Ugen T Gyatso, then Minister of Tourism and Aviation, who also was the Chief Guest of the cultural event. The highlight of the second session was the release of ‘NEWA’, a documentary on Newar Language and Culture. The documentary was made by Badhaichha Creation, Singtam; jointly directed by Shital Pradhan (me) and Praveen Pradhan. Various cultural programs were performed by the participants from different corners of the state and beyond.
The tragic April 2015 Nepal Earthquake happened, here to SNKS acted prominently and being a good neighbour collected the sum of Rs 1,28,601. A team led by TB Pradhan, Binod Pradhan and others visited the earthquake site along with essential goods and handed over the items along with financial help to the concerned officials. Donation towards Rongli Monastery was also done a few months later the same year.
Published in Sikkim Express - 30.08.2020
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