DAY 50
Today is 'Tendong Lho rum Faat' and also very much significantly the 50th day of the indefinite hunger strike by Satyagrahis and members of ACT led by Dawa Lepcha and 20 year old Tenzing Lepcha.
Dawa and Tenzing at still at STNM Hospital while the rest continued their relay hunger strike at BL House.
A female Lepcha priest, ‘Mun ‘from Dzongu performed the thanksgiving prayers at BL House today in honour of Mount Tendong and also to the Itbumoo,the Mother Creator.
This Lepcha festival is observed by the Lepchas to pay obeisance to the Tendong Hill which saved their tribe from annihilation in the great flood. This prayer festival, coming at a time when the Lepchas fear another ‘deluge’ is of great symbolic value today.
Tendong Lho Rum Faat is a thanksgiving prayer in honour of Tendong Hill and is observed every year on August 8.
Legend has it that a time came when Itbu-Moo, the Mother Creator, was hurt by the Lepcha’s negligence in offering sacrifices and prayers. The big black shiny Pamolbu, the very embodiment of evil in a serpent form took that as his cue and went and blocked the flow of the two main rivers, Rongit and Rong-Nyu, which flowed through Sikkim. The flowing waters of these two rivers, thus being damned, started rising till; at last, a time came when all the land was submerged under the Great Flood. It was Tundong-Lho, the ‘ladder mountain’ that came to the rescue of the Lepcha people, because through this mountain ladder people had climbed up to safety.
Dawa and Tenzing at still at STNM Hospital while the rest continued their relay hunger strike at BL House.
A female Lepcha priest, ‘Mun ‘from Dzongu performed the thanksgiving prayers at BL House today in honour of Mount Tendong and also to the Itbumoo,the Mother Creator.
This Lepcha festival is observed by the Lepchas to pay obeisance to the Tendong Hill which saved their tribe from annihilation in the great flood. This prayer festival, coming at a time when the Lepchas fear another ‘deluge’ is of great symbolic value today.
Tendong Lho Rum Faat is a thanksgiving prayer in honour of Tendong Hill and is observed every year on August 8.
Legend has it that a time came when Itbu-Moo, the Mother Creator, was hurt by the Lepcha’s negligence in offering sacrifices and prayers. The big black shiny Pamolbu, the very embodiment of evil in a serpent form took that as his cue and went and blocked the flow of the two main rivers, Rongit and Rong-Nyu, which flowed through Sikkim. The flowing waters of these two rivers, thus being damned, started rising till; at last, a time came when all the land was submerged under the Great Flood. It was Tundong-Lho, the ‘ladder mountain’ that came to the rescue of the Lepcha people, because through this mountain ladder people had climbed up to safety.
Meanwhle Government of Sikkim celebrated " Tendong Lho Rumfaat " in a grand manner at auditorium of Sikkim Government College in Tadong, Gangtok though most of the Lepchas stayed away from the official function.
Delivering the chief guest's address, Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling called upon the Lepcha people of state not to be misguided by people from within and outside Sikkim who have vested interests in misleading and misinforming ever peace loving people of lepcha community of Sikkim. He snubbed the ACT as an organisation who have double-standards and is being guided by selfish and political forces who wish to disturb the peaceful environment and developmental process of state and Dzongu region in particular.He questioned where was ACT when the process of clearing Panan Hydel Project being undertaken and its public hearing was being held in Dzongu if they had all the concerns which they are trying to put forward.
Dr.Chamling extended an Open Invitation to Dawa Lepcha & Tenzing Lepcha to call off their hunger strike and come to meet him for one to one dialogue where he have assured to sort out all the issues and doubts they might be having on these projects while respecting the rule of law.
Read more about it: -
There is still no official press releases from the Government or ACT and we all hope and sincerely pray that both the sides begin negotiations.
In other news the Pawan Hans helicopter, Sikkim’s only air link plying from Bagdogra to Gangtok carrying two passengers force landed at the Melli Ground here yesterday right in the middle of a local football match. The 61st Independence Day Football tournament was underway when this incident happened. The footballers were taken completely by surprise when the chopper started to hover above the ground in a desperate attempt to land. The players had no choice but to run for cover!!This unexpected intrusion in the match caused much annoyance to the people, especially the organisers who had to call off the match for the day with the chopper sitting pretty in the middle of the field and the incident compelled the organising committee to pay compensation to the teams, putting the tournament in a financial tight spot.
Read more about it!!@
The people of Raley under Rakdong Tintek constituency where the 510 MW Teesta Stage V Hydel Project is nearing completion came in with strong criticism today against the “haphazard disbursement” of the relief cum compensation to the affected families of NHPC Teesta Stage V power project.The disbursement was recently made by the office of the East District Collectorate. While talking with the media today, most of the people expressed their resentment stating that there were several loopholes and foul play which has ultimately deprived the affected families of their actual compensation.
Read more about it @ -
http://sikkimnews.blogspot.com/2007/08/haphazard-disbursement-of-relief-cum.html
The indefinite hunger strike continues to its 51st day tomorrow.
The indefinite hunger strike continues to its 51st day tomorrow.
A Lepcha ‘Mun ‘from Dzongu performing thanksgiving prayers at BL House today in honour of Mount Tendong and also to the Itbumoo,the Mother Creator.
Relay hunger strikers
Lepcha girls performing their traditional Lepcha dance at Sikkim Govt college Auditorium.
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