Bhumi Puja for Rai Khim at Lumsey

The Bhumi Puja for the construction of the “Rai Khim” (Rai Community Bhawan) was conducted on 24 November at Lumsey, 5^th Mile Tadong. The Puja was initiated by the president of Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, CB Rai, in the presence of former AKRS president, Dr. SK Rai, vice president DK Rai and other executive members of the AKRS.

The AKRS president informed that the Rai Khim will be a five and a half storeyed structure which will house a hall, library, study centre for Rai students and other provisions. He thanked Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and the state government for their support to the project. 

AKRS to celebrate communal harmony during Sakewa at Saramsa

GANGTOK, 16 May: The Rai festival of Sakewa will be held at Saramsa here on 27 May, with the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim, announcing that the celebration will be held on a grand scale.
Addressing a press conference here at the Press Club of Sikkim today, the AKRS president, Dr. SK Rai, informed that the state-level celebration of Sakewa-2013 was being organized at Saramsa as the Rai Gaon project coming up at Ranka was still under construction. “Last year, the state level celebration of Sakewa was held in South District, this year we are holding it in the East District, next year we plan to hold it in West Sikkim and in the fourth year, will hold the celebrations at the block level,” he said.
Sakewa will be celebrated this year as “Sadbhawana Diwas”, AKRS informs.
The conference was also addressed by Mohan Dungmali [president, Sakewa Organising Committee 2013], who informed that the event will feature cultural programmes, food stalls and displays of the cultural wealth of the Rai community.
This year’s Sakewa celebration will have the Governor as the chief guest and the Chief Minister as guest of honour accompanied by the Minister for Tribal Affairs & Panchayati Raj [Government of India] Vyricherla Kishore Chandra Suryanarayana Deo as special guest. AKRS also plans to felicitate five persons - PR Bhutia, Tenzing Loday Lepcha, Dhurba Lohagan, PB Muningla and PM Rai - for their contributions towards their respective communities. In keeping with the theme of this year’s Sakewa – Sadhbhavna - AKRS will also be handing over tokens of appreciation to the presidents [15] of organizations and associations representing the various ethnic communities of Sikkim.

AKRS-East meets and retains existing body

GANGTOK, 18 March: The coordination meeting cum election of the East District Committee of the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh was convened here at the STNM Hospital conference hall today under the chairmanship of AKRS president, Dr SK Rai, a press release informs.
The meeting was also attended by South Zilla Adakshya BM Rai, chief patron of Sapten Mangkhim  Ranka Mohan Dungmali, East District president Binita Rai and members from different block level branches of the organization in East district.
The east district general secretary, DK Rai, presented the details of accounts and informed that although the State Government has allotted a site at Lumsey in Tadong, the construction for a Rai Khim remains a challenge for the district committee. In this regard, he appealed to all block level members of the organization for contributions to assist the completion of the project.
It was also informed during the meeting that the field and official work for the construction has been completed and construction order has also been approved, and in this regard, the work put in by KR Rai, treasurer, East District Committee, was appreciated by all present at the meeting, the release adds.
Representatives from the block level committees also addressed the meeting and issued of Rai script and language were also discussed.
After dissolving the existing  AKRS Sikkim East District Committee , elections for the new body were conducted and all the eight block committee members decided to retain the existing body with a few changes in the posts.

AKRS-East felicitates 4 achievers

GANGTOK, 18 March: Four of the members of the Rai community were felicitated  at the coordination meeting cum election of the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh’s East district unit today.
Managing Director, Nayuma Entertainment, Roshan Rai, was felicitated for the successful  production of Nepali feature film “Acharya” which is running successfully in Gangtok and has fetched rave reviews all over the world. He was feted for his contribution towards Nepali cinema, an AKRS press release informs. The AKRS Sikkim president, Dr. SK Rai, who chaired today’s meeting, handed over the felicitation letter.
Similarly, a letter of appreciation was also handed over to DK Rai for his contribution towards the Kirat Udgham Aadim Bhumi Tawachung Jaiyajung Sangrakchan Samitee Kotang, Hasali Nepal , by the chief patron of the Sapten Mangkhim-Ranka. The committee in Nepal has already conferred a letter of appreciation to Mr.
DK Rai and requested the AKRS to present the same to him in a befitting manner  here in Sikkim. Music composer Narayan Rai was also felicitated for his contribution towards the Rai musical tradition. His recently released music album, Sayachongma, will a go long way towards preservation and propagation of Rai traditions, culture and history, the organization endorses. He was conferred with a felicitation letter and “Sayabung” by the Zilla Adhakshya South BM Rai on behalf of the organization today.
Sushila Rai was also felicitated with a letter and a shawl by AKRS East District president for her contributions in music and lending her voice to the album “Sayachangma”. Sushila was also one of the finalist of Swar Sikkim and is a Radio artist.

AKRS felicitates Republic Day Tableau team

GANGTOK, 12 Feb: The Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh [AKRS] organised a felicitation program for the Republic Day parade Sikkim Sakewa Tableau and Sili team on 11 Feb at Seven Hills Resort, Namchi. The Sakewa Tableu along with Sili team had represented Sikkim on the 63rd Republic day parade at Rajpath, Delhi.
The chief coordinator for all committees of AKRS, Tika Maya Chamling was present as the chief guest for the occasion while the Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai was the guest of honour. Similarly the program was attended by Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, KN Rai, Chairman Temi Tea Board, Gagan Rai, the first president of AKRS, Andrew Rai, current president, Dr. SK Rai, a founder member of AKRS, Mohan Dungmali, prominent artist Hemu Rai and other dignitaries.
The day witnessed the reunion of the founder and senior members of the Sangh. In his welcome speech Dr. S.K Rai congratulated and thanked the participants of the Tableau and all others involved with it.
An AKRS press release informs that the felicitation program comprised of offering betebung, sayabung and shawals to the elders while the children participating in the sili dance were awarded certificates of participation. Altogether 40 participants were felicitated during the occasion.
A founder member of AKRS, Mohan Dungmali shared his experiences in the making and presentation of the tableau at Delhi. He also shared his nostalgic feelings of the struggle for the formation of the Sangh and appealed to every one to support its cause, the release informs.
Thanking the state government he informed that an amount of Rs. 1 crore has already been received for the construction of Paruhang Sapten Mangkhim at Ranka which is estimated to cost about Rs.8 crore on completion. In his address, Gagan Rai thanked and congratulated the tableau team and informed about the progress of the ongoing Mangkhim construction at Chemchey. He informed that the project is almost on the verge of completion and may take another month and also thanked all the members for their contributions for the same.
He also briefed on the upcoming project of the construction of the Kirawa Study Centre at Singithang, Namchi. The former and first AKRS president, Andrew Rai stated that every individual in the sangh is gifted with different talents and qualities and it is through their contribution that we all can uplift the people of the community and society as a whole.
The Political Secretary to Chief Minister K.N Rai praised and thanked the artist Hemu Rai the brain child behind the design of the tableau. He also congratulated and thanked all those involved in making the tableau a success. Further, he stated that just like the tableau team got the opportunity to go to Delhi and meet top leaders and visit places likewise responsibility has come upon their shoulders to go back to their blocks and further share their talents with others and help propagate the rich culture.
Member of Parliament, PD Rai speaking on the significance of the tableau stated “It has formed the element of Cultural Consciousness of India and further enriched our emotional integration with the nation”, the release mentions. The chief guest, Tika Maya Chamling in her address thanked all the participants and members of the tableau for creating history and making the tableau a success. Further, she stated that the tableau has proved the existence of Rai community and further enriched and added itself as one of the many colours of culture that exists in India.
She also stressed on the need to construct Mangkhims since it establishes the existence of the community in the region. She urged everyone for the participation and contribution towards the construction of such Mangkhims in the region.
 “Coming forward and working for the upliftment of the community is not a communal issue but suppressing and dominating other communities and depriving them of their rights is a communal issue” said the chief guest, the release adds. Further, she urged all the public representatives hailing from the community to come forward and work for the Sangh. Lastly, the vote of thanks was delivered by the district president AKRS South, Dr.Nayan Rai.

AKRS celebrates “historic moment” of Rai tableau’s inclusion in R-Day Parade

GANGTOK, 27 Jan: After a month of hard practice and dedication, the tableau of the Kirat Khambu Rai and Sakewa Sili was presented on the occasion of 63rd Republic Day in New Delhi with full gusto, representing Sikkim and the Kirat Rai Khambu of Sikkim, informs a press release issued by the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh [AKRS].
A group of 30 participants along with the tableau showcased the different traditions of the Kirat Khambu Rai community at Rajpath, New Delhi on Thursday. It was a “historic event for the Rai community and Sikkim as well”, the release mentions.
President AKRS Sikkim, Dr SK Rai said that it was a very successful event where the whole world was watching this historic moment on television. He has received numerous SMSes from Assam, Delhi, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and neighboring states congratulating the successful presentation, the release mentions.
Dr Rai has also thanked everyone from the Culture department and Government of Sikkim who for the support and opportunity to present the culture and traditional of Rai community to the world, the release adds.
The cultural troupe met the Prime Minister and the President of India on 24 and 27 January respectively. Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, KN Rai, accompanied by some others was also in New Delhi to encourage the group, the release further adds.

AKRS calls for all works on Rai language and culture to first clear association’s scrutiny

GANGTOK, 09 Jan: The Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, Sikkim held a meeting-cum-New Year celebration at Seven Hills, Phali Dara, Namchi on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, KN Rai expressed “that for the development of a human being, one has to have inner growth besides mental and physical well being, only then can it be said to be true development”, informs an AKRS release.

AKRS meets to discuss Rai Tableau for Republic Day 2012

GANGTOK, 28 Nov: A meeting of Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh (AKRS), Sikkim was held under the chairmanship of Political Secretary to the Chief Minister, KN Rai, at his residence to discuss the Tableau of the Rai community which is scheduled to be included in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi next year, informs a press release.

KRS South convenes AGM

GANGTOK, 23 Oct: The Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh, South District, convened its Annual General Meeting at Namchi today, informs a press release issued by general secretary, AKRS South, Shailesh Rai.

AKRS plans 2-day Sakewa celebrations in May

GANGTOK, 24 April: The Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh Sikkim has announced plans to organise a 2-day celebration of the Rai festival of Sakewa on 22 and 23 May. This was decided at an AKRS meeting held at the South District Administrative Centre conference hall  on Friday. The meeting was chaired by Tea Board chairperson Gagan Rai accompanied by the Namchi-Singhithang MLA, Binod Rai, informs an AKRS press release.