HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Wednesday
April 3-9, 2013
Chogyal unlikely to return home
Bongthings of Sikkim’s Guardian Deities
felicitated
Gangtok, April 9: Chogyal Wangchuk Namgyal is unlikely to return to his
Palace here as has been hoped by a section of the Sikkimese people. He has
renounced the world and the religious activities of the Chogyal are being
carried out by the Tsuklakhang Trust on his behalf, according to members of the
Trust.
Revealing
this at a historic ceremony here at the Tsuklakhang premises on Sunday in
honour of two Lepcha priests (Bongthings) connected to the worship of Sikkim’s
Guardian Deities, Trust Secretary Namgyal T. Bhutia in his address said, “His
Majesty has been practising Dharma for last several years after renouncing all
the comfort of royalty.”
The statement added, “He always reminds us
that he offers his sincere prayers daily for the well being of Sikkim and the
Sikkimese irrespective of wherever he may be.”
The
Trust was formed in August 1982, a few months after Wangchuk Namgyal was
crowned the 13th Chogyal of Sikkim during the historic funeral of
his late father Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on February 19, 1982.
Ever
since the Chogyal has been out of Sikkim most of the time spending his time in
meditation and spiritual activities in Bhutan and Nepal.
The
Late Bongthing Samdup Tasho Lepcha, who used to perform the annual rituals to
Khangchendzonga, Sikkim’s Guardian Deity, on Pang Lhabsol was posthumously
felicitated by the Trust here on Sunday along with Ren Pem Tshering Lepcha, who
performs the rituals for Yabdu, Sikkim’s Guardian Deity of the southern gate,
on the said occasion.
Yabdu Bongthing Ren Pem Tshering Lepcha being felicitated by Pemayangtse Monastery Dorje
Lopon in Gangtok on Sunday (April 7, 2013)
Prominent
among those who witnessed the historic occasion were Pemayangtse Monastery
Dorje Lopon (Chief Guest for the function), Trust’s Managing Truste Tsetop
Ragasha, and State Government Secretary SD Tshering. Lamas of the Tsuklakhang
Monastery, members of the local community and some foreigners also participated
in the function.
The
felicitation is in “recognition of the selfless services and contribution made
by the two very important Bongthings for preserving the rich (and) ageless
tradition of worshipping our guardian deity Kanchendzonga and Yabdu,” Bhutia said.
He
added, “The need of the hour is to recognize, preserve and encourage this rich
ancient tradition for posterity. Therefore, the Tsuklakhang Trust has embarked
upon the task to organize this historic function,” Bhutia added.
Development first, Gorkhaland later
 |
| Jairam Ramesh and Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling on Sunday. (pix: The Telegraph) |
Darjeeling, April 9: While keeping its demand for separate Gorkhaland
State alive the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is likely call off its agitational
approach to the demand.
This
has been reportedly decided by the Morcha leadership after Union Minister for
Rural Development Jairam Ramesh said in Darjeeling on Sunday that it was time
to keep politics aside for five to ten years and focus on the development of
the region instead.
“We
have taken the decision in the wake of Mr. Ramesh’s visit and having realised
that the attitude of the Centre is agreeable,” GJM general secretary Roshan
Giri told The Hindu on the phone from
Darjeeling.
The
GJM had set the Centre the deadline of April 9 to take a call on the Gorkhaland
demand failing which it would resume its agitation. A programme of agitations
was put in abeyance in response to requests made separately by President Pranab
Mukherjee and some Union Ministers when a delegation of the party led by its President
Bimal Gurung visited them in New Delhi in early March.
“Our
campaign for a separate State that is our ultimate demand will, however,
continue with torchlight rallies and holding of public meetings,” Giri said.
Uttarakhand:1985 as cut-off-year for
caste certificates
Dehradun, April 9: The State Government on Tuesday decided to issue
caste certificates to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward
Classes members who were permanent residents in the region since 1985, 15 years
before the State was carved out Uttar Pradesh on November 9, 2000.
This
is as per the directive of the Uttarakhand High Court. Chief secretary Alok
Kumar Jain said the government took the decision to fix 1985 as cut off date at
a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Monday, eight
months after the Uttarakhand HC issued an order to this effect.
Jain
said decision was also followed by a Government order issued by principal
secretary S Raju on Monday.
He
said this will help maximum number of bonafide and genuine SCs, STs and OBC
members who have been living in State within the stipulated time frame get
caste certificates. Most of them are those living in Uttarakhand's Haridwar and
Udham Singh Nagar districts apart from other parts of the tarai areas. They had
been demanding 1985 be fixed as cut-off-year for issuing caste certificates.
Uttarakhand
HC issued an order on August 17, 2012 to fix 1985 as the cut-off-date to issue
caste certificates in response to a PIL. It had challenged 1952 as cut-off-year
for issuing castes certificates to weaker section and urged the court to bring
it down to 1985.
A
government source said the government decided to implement the HC order as the
civic polls are expected to be held in the second week of April.
Editorial
GORKHALAND DEMAND
Stomach Comes First
An army cannot march on empty
stomach. This also applies to those who are fighting for a homeland called
Gorkhaland in the hills of Darjeeling. While the going is good it would be
foolish to embark on an agitational path to achieve Gorkhaland. Both the Centre
and the West Bengal Government are in a mood to bring peace and development in
the hills of Darjeeling. A confrontational approach to the statehood demand
would not only be fruitless at the moment the Gorkhas themselves are divided on
the issue.
Any issue that involves the
masses must be kept alive through peaceful and non-violent means. This does not
mean holding occasional public meetings and press conferences and submitting
memoranda to various authorities on the issue. There has to be a systematic
long-term plan on the statehood issue. Meanwhile, the political leadership must
maintain its credibility and this means not being too corrupt and upholding the
democratic process. Darjeeling people deserve a better deal from all concerned
and the authorities must ensure that peace leads to prosperity and real
development.
GNLF supports formation of Lepcha council
Ghising may return to hills
soon: GNLF
Darjeeling, April 9: In a significant move, the
Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supported the demand of Darjeeling
Lepchas on formation of a separate council to preserve the indigenous minority
community’s distinct identity and cultural heritage.
This was made known during the 33rd foundation day celebration of the
party in Kurseong on Friday, when around 5000 supporters were present.
“We also appreciate the announcements made by the chief minister to
form development boards for Lepchas and Buddhists in the hills,” Mahendra
Chhetri, President of the Terai regional unit of the GNLF and a central
committee leader of the party said.
The Morcha staunchly opposed the
formation of the Lepcha board under the state government.
“Forming such councils or bodies for conservation and promotion of
different tribes and their cultures dwelling in hills has been mentioned in the
Sixth Schedule…. We thus appreciate the decision,” Chettri added.
The foundation day rally has
come at a time when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, the ruling force in the hills,
has fallen out with the State Government. The Morcha has also been criticized
by the people and opposition leaders for betraying the cause of the people on
Gorkhaland. Supporters of the Morcha and other parties are now joining the
Trinamul Congress.
Ghisingh, who was banished from the hills in 2010 and has since being
living in Jalpaiguri, did not attend the meeting.
However, the GNLF reiterated its demand on Sixth Schedule status for
the Darjeeling hills that allows autonomy to a specific geographic area with
constitutional validation.
“We observed the foundation day of our party as the Gorkhaland Namkaran
Sthapna Diwas to remind people that it was the GNLF and its chief Subash
Ghisingh who had raised the demand of statehood on April 5, 1980, that is 33
years back,” said Chhetri.
“The
meeting is a part of the exercises taken up at the preparatory phase. Our
principal leader (Ghisingh) will soon address people in public and will also go
to the hills within next four to six weeks.”
THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST
CITATION
Ren Samdrup Taso Lepcha
Late Ren Samdrup Taso Lepcha was the son of late Ren Yangkyok Lepcha and
late Renyu Champi Lepcha from Nung, located in Tingvong village, Dzongu, North
Sikkim. In the village and beyond he was better known as Nung Taso or the
Kongchen Bongthing. He belonged to an ancient lineage of powerful Lepcha
shamans who are the sole keepers of the ritual knowledge of the sacred Kongchen
ritual. On the 29th of October 2011, late Ren Samdrup Taso Lepcha
passed away at the age of 84 in his home in Nung during a minor earthquake.
His clan, the Garkum tsum ptso, is associated with the powerful mountain
deity Kongchen and traces its ancestry back to the soldiers (vik) of
Kongchen. Their lineage is said to have performed the worship to this
protective deity since time immemorial. The importance of this lineage for the
appeasement of Kongchen and the worship of Sikkim as Beyul Demoshong was
recognised by the Chogyals of Sikkim. Henceforth, the annual ritual to Kongchen
and the other protective mountain deities of Sikkim became an integral part of
the Sikkimese festival Pang Lhabsol.
For the people of Dzongu, the ritual was a four-day-long affair. The
Kongchen Bongthing performed a ritual to Mount Khangchendzonga and then set off
towards the Royal Palace together with five other villagers who were appointed
by the Chogyal. At the same time, the other village bongthings also performed a
similar ritual. From Dzongu they used to bring fish from a specific waterfall
and birds from the forests above Sakyong. When they arrived at the Palace,
offerings were exchanged. The Kongchen Bongthing received incense, rice and
millet beer from the Chogyal and held a ceremony. Then – with the Chogyal’s
ritual gift of a yak – the delegation returned to Dzongu and performed the
final part of the ritual at the lha tsu,
an altar place at Nung. Here, the yak was sacrificed and all local deities of
Sikkim were called upon to protect the land, the Chogyal and the people.
Late Ren Samdrup Taso Lepcha
assisted his father with the performances of the Kongchen ritual and learned
the sacred knowledge of his clan. The elaborate ritual was then discontinued
after 1975, but until today it is still held on a village level. Sadly, the
sacred knowledge of this ritual has not been passed on to Late Ren Samdrup Taso
Lepcha’s son, but the community bears hope that his grandson will take on the
responsibility and carry on the ancient tradition of the Kongchen ritual.
As specified by its Settlor, Tenzing Tobgyal Wangchuk Sisum Namgyal,
Chogyal of Sikkim, The Tsuklakhang Trust endeavours to uphold and propagate for
the benefit of all sentient beings the traditional, religious and social
customs, ceremonies and teachings as expounded by Guru Rinpoche, introduced
into Sikkim by the Naljor Che-zhi and patronized by successive Chogyals of
Sikkim.
Therefore, in
recognition of the selfless service and contribution made towards preserving
the ageless tradition of the unique Sikkimese festival of Pang Lhabsol, The
Tsuklakhang Trust is pleased to honour late Bongthing Ren Samdup Taso Lepcha
post-humously with this citation and offer good wishes and sincere prayers for his descendents long and healthy lives
and perpetuation of their ritual lineage.
May
his soul rest in peace and be blessed by the Triple Gems forever!
Tashi
Deleg
Place:
Tsuklakhang, Gangtok
Date:
7th April, 2013
Sd/-
Sd/- Sd/-
(Namgyal
T. Bhutia) (Tsetop Ragasha) Chief Guest
Secretary
Managing Trustee
Dorje Lopon
The
Tsuklakhang Trust The
Tsuklakhang Trust Pemayangtse
Monastery
THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST
CITATION
Ren Pem Tshering Lepcha
The ritual for Yabdü forms part of the sacred Pang Lhabsol celebration which is unique to Sikkim. It is observed at the end of August or early September, on the immediate Friday preceding the 15th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar when Pang Lhabsol is observed at the Tsuklakhang in Gangtok.
Immediately following the conclusion of the Drukpa Tsheshi rituals at the Tsuklakhang in July, the ritual offerings required by the Bongthing are prepared and dispatched by special carrier from Gangtok. Ritual purifications and prayers commence upon reception of the offerings which consist of seven packets of incense for daily purification, give different colour prayer flags, one kilo of bal-tshon (multi-coloured woolen threads), one kilo of butter, a brick of Tibetan tea, a bottle of rum and a basket of chang together with money.
The day’s celebration commences at 7.00 am with the Bongthing’s purification of the area, the hoisting of the prayer flags and the bal-tshon together with seven male Lepcha helpers at an open air altar overlooking the River Teesta. Butter lamps are lit and offerings are laid out on wild banana leaves: the first fruit of the harvest, offerings of papaya, cucumber and sweets together with chang. The Bongthing, who fasts until the conclusion of the ritual at 2 pm, performs his ritual chant invoking Yabdu, his mamu consort and other protecting deities of Sikkim for the benefit of all sentient beings. The day concludes with a feast for all villagers.
Bongthing Ren Pem Tshering Lepcha has been holding the annual Pang
Lhabsol ritual for Yabdü since 1962 following the demise of his late father. In
olden days, the ritual used to be performed in a jungle above Kali Jhora and
Teesta but this was discontinued at the time of his late grandfather due to
attacks by tigers and other wild animals.
Born around 1935,
Bongthing Ren Pem Tshering Lepcha is now close to eighty years old and, having
no son, has been training his nephew Ren Tashi Lepcha for the past three years
with the view of ensuring the ritual’s continuity. He
leads a very humble and pious life dedicated to ritual and prayer for the
benefit of Sikkim and all sentient beings. His personal association with the
Palace and subsequently with The Tsuklakhang Trust spans more than fifty-one
years. He is the only surviving Bongthing in the area who is not only a
repository of the old culture, traditions and values but also one who still
celebrates Sikkim as Beyul Demoshong, the sacred hidden land blessed by Guru
Padmasambhava.
As specified by its Settlor, Tenzing Tobgyal Wangchuk
Sisum Namgyal, Chogyal of Sikkim, The Tsuklakhang Trust endeavours to uphold
and propagate for the benefit of all sentient beings the traditional, religious
and social customs, ceremonies and teachings as expounded by Guru Rinpoche,
introduced into Sikkim by the Naljor Che-zhi and patronized by successive
Chogyals of Sikkim.
Therefore, in recognition of the selfless service and contribution made
towards preserving the ageless tradition
of the unique Sikkimese festival of Pang Lhabsol, The Tsuklakhang Trust is
pleased to honour Bongthing Ren Pem
Tshering Lepcha with this citation and offer good wishes and sincere prayers
for his long and healthy life.
May he be blessed by the
Triple Gems forever!
Tashi
Deleg
Place:
Tsuklakhang, Gangtok
Date:
7th April, 2013
Sd/-
Sd/- Sd/-
(Namgyal
T. Bhutia) (Tsetop
Ragasha) Chief Guest
Secretary
Managing Trustee
Dorje Lopon
The
Tsuklakhang Trust The
Tsuklakhang Trust Pemayangtse
Monastery
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