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

31.12.22: Congratulations Shri  Amrit Thakuri, best wishes for your retirement. You had been a flag bearer of the education department of Sikkim, and as a Head Master at Posakay Primary School, you have set a benchmark for all. Having received the National Award in Education in 2012, Shri Amrit Thakuri and Posakay Primary School are symbiotically linked. Having been associated with Amrit Sir since 2011, I have watched him passionately create an environment for students for a brighter future. Numerous students from his school have been awarded HCM Scholarships, JNVs, and other scholarships. Today, Posakay Primary School is a model primary school in Sikkim. He has been inspiring people, and I am among the blessed few to have a perfect relationship with him. His involvement with community mobilization contributed most to his success as a school administrator. Self-disciplined and a true leader, he developed a cordial relationship with his staff. His innovative and captivating all-aro...

  29.12.22: A few days back, I had an opportunity to witness a late evening Hindi play Thieves’ Carnival at Manna Kendra, Gangtok, organized by the National School of Drama, Gangtok, and performed by NSD, Sikkim batch of 2021-22. The story is about three thieves who get entangled in a plot created by a rich and bored lady. Without a doubt, the backstage creation of the French-language story deserves much appreciation. The attire worn by the artists, the lights, and the background music, especially the violin part, were finely synchronized with the play's mood. This play was well performed, not too loud, and yet intriguing because of the wide range of shades of different characters involved. The entire play was undoubtedly a team effort and very well displayed, but to me, two characters stand out among all. Lady Hurf, a rich and bored lady, tells three thieves a story and becomes their hostess for them. In the shoes of Lady Hurf, Pallavi Gupta seems destined to be a part of this act...

22.12.22, Singtam: The 11th Foundation Day was celebrated by Riverine Elementary School at Community Hall, Rongli. The school's annual report, academic prize distributions, felicitations, cultural programs, a fashion show and addresses from dignitaries were the highlights of the day. A farewell ceremony for the outgoing student was also organised. Sanjay Budhathoki, an International Physique Athlete was the chief guest of the day. Other distinguished guests included TT Bhutia (Retd. Joint Secretary, Education Department), LN Pradhan (Retd. Additional Secretary, Power Department), Sakuntla Pradhan (Retd. Teacher), Sachin Rai (Zilla Panchayat), Ashish Subba (CLC Incharge), Deven Chettri (CLC Treasurer), SMC members, Panchayat members, former teachers, guardians and others. Vice Principal Santosh Rai presented the Annual Report while Miss Anamika Pradhan, Director of the school shared the future plans of Riverine Elementary School. Through the initiative 'Little Helping Hand',...

23.12.22, Singtam: Free Eye Medical Camp was organized by Pipal Dara Social Organisation, Singtam in collaboration with Asha Foundation, Kalimpong at Community Hall, Singtam. The camp was held between 10 am to 7.30 pm, and more than 200 individuals were given free medical treatment. The treatments included Free Eye Testing & checks, Free Medicines, Free Micro Surgery Operation/Cataract Operation, two years of free medicines & free services and 60% discount on spectacles. The eye camp had participants from far-flung places like Siliguri, Rongli, Rhenock, Gangtok, Sang, Martam, Namthang, Khamdong, Mamring and all the nearby places of Singtam.   Speaking on the occasion, Feroj Lohagun, General Secretary of PDSO stated that our organization is dedicated to the betterment and upliftment of society. We want to motivate the younger generation and make our society strong. Through this press release, the organization has thanked Shri Suresh Tamang, (President) and all Council...

Sikkim defeated Manipur by 8 wickets in its first-ever Ranji Trophy match held on the soil of Sikkim. The two captains of the Sikkim Cricket Team and the Manipur Cricket Team There were many personal bests from the match, Nilesh Lamichanay scoring 74 (113) with 13 fours was a gem of the inning and won him Man of the Match . His 100-plus run partnership with Pankaj Rawat who scored 72 (157) was the base of the Sikkim win. Palzor Tamang claimed the first fifer at SICA ground was equally supported by Sumit Singh 's four wickets in the Manipur second innings. The playing eleven of the Sikkim Men's Team that played the first Ranji Trophy held on Sikkim's soil against Manipur The Manipur Men's Team playing eleven that played the first Ranji Trophy was held on Sikkim soil against Sikkim On the other hand, Manipur will always remember this game thanks to debutant Jotin Pheiroijam , who took 9 wickets in the first innings, thus making a name in the record books. Ronald Lo...

12.12.22:  In the presence of different representatives of Singtam, Bhanu Udhyan Sanrakshan Samiti, a committee was formed on December 12, 2020. The Committee with the support and consultation of different government bodies would maintain and safeguard the popular Bhanu Park of Singtam. Rohit Raj Maharaj, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sikkim presided over the meeting held at the premises of Bhanu Udhyan. Executive members of the newly formed committee were also nominated on the day. Hon’ble Area MLA, Shri Rohit Raj Maharaj, Councillors of Singtam Nagar Panchayat and Shri Raghubir Agarwal were made the Chief Partons. The other executive members included: Shri LN Pradhan (President), Shri Sundar Rai (General Secretary), Shri Mohan Pradhan ‘Neeraj’ (Vice President - i) and Shri Shyam Rai (Vice President - ii), Shri Mahesh Dahal, Shri Shital Pradhan and Smt Neetu Dhamala (all Joint Secretary), Shri KB Chettri (Treasurer) and Shri Tenzing Sherpa (Joint Treasurer), Shri Nandu Dutraj, ...

08.12.22, Singtam: East Point SSS, Golitar, Pakyong District was the host of the 318th birth anniversary of the Teyongsi Sirijunga Jayanti Celebration. TB Limboo, Chief A/O cum Finance Controller, Samagraha Siksha, Education Department, Gangtok. On the auspicious occasion, four personalities were felicitated. Those felicitated persons included Shri TB Limboo, Shri Sunder Kr. Rai (AEO/Duga BAC Education Department), Shri HB Limboo (President - Yakthung Tonjo Songjumvo Singtam and Shri Mahesh Dahal "Sangam" (Nepali Sahityakaar).

It is more than a coincidence that exactly a year ago, I clicked a strange-looking cloud from the balcony of my Sakyong Chisopani JHS, and on the same date this year, from the same school premises, I clicked photographs of a moving object in the sky that is not a cloud or a fighter plane contrail. My sky-gazing interest made me research what other sky events occurred that day/night across the globe, and interestingly, I came to know that on that night, across the north Indian states of India, including the state of Punjab, a  strange-looking line of bright lights  moving across the sky.  The photograph of the bright lines did look similar to the ones I took the photographs on that day; the only thing was that the cloud-like image I saw moved like a cloud. 02.12.21: Photographed from Sakyong Chisopani JHS Mysterious lights spotted in the sky in northern India leave many people puzzled. Exactly a year later, I came across a shooting star-like object moving across the sky. I...

03.12.2022: I have been following the different contrails in Sikkim since 2009, without a doubt what I saw yesterday was not a fighter jet contrail. At Sakyong Chispani JHS where I work, a group of students pointed at the sky and made noise. I too followed them and silently captured what they were watching. The so-called object was smaller than other contrails seen in the last 14 years. Another difference was that human-made things leave longer contrails. This was my first sighting of a shooting star-type object, so I do not know whether it was a comet or a meteor. This object went past the hills of Pendam.