Indigenous Lepcha fashion show-cum-exhibition to be held at Kalimpong and Gangtok

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BY LEPCHA YOUTH FROM SIKKIM AND WEST BENGAL
GANGTOK, 21 Aug: Lepcha youth from Sikkim and West Bengal have come together to organize AN “Indigenous Lepcha Fashion Show-cum-Exhibition” at Kalimpong and Gangtok. To organize the event in a grand manner, a joint action committee has also been formed with members from Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association and Kalimpong-based Lepcha Youth Association of West Bengal.
Addressing a press conference today, the JAC convener for the event, Tshering Wangchuk Lepcha mentioned that for the first time Lepcha youth from Sikkim and West Bengal have come together to organize such an event. He informed that there will be fashion shows and exhibition of manuscripts, artifacts, Lepcha cuisine, attire and other items related to Lepcha community. The event will be held in two different phases; the first phase in Kalimpong and the final phase in Gangtok, he added.
Mr Lepcha informed that in the first phase, there will be fashion show and exhibition in Kalimpong on 08 September for which people from rural areas have been especially requested to exhibit manuscripts, artifacts, wild edibles and attire. He informed that the selected designs in the fashion show from the first phase will be shortlisted for the Grand Finale at Gangtok on 10 November, where the venue will also host the same exhibition side by side.
At Kalimpong the event will be held at Kumdini Homes School and at Gangtok, the organizers are trying to get Mannan Bhawan to host this event.
The grand finale will also have a musical show by Lepcha bands from Kalimpong and Sikkim.
“We Lepchas being the indigenous tribe of Sikkim, want more Lepcha people to participate in the event and showcase the rich cultural and traditional items of the community”, said JAC coordinator, Phurbu Doma Lepcha. She mentioned that the event has also been trying to create cultural awareness among the Lepcha youth and other communities as well. “We do not like to call ourselves a vanishing tribe”, she added.
Ms Lepcha informed that the aim of the fashion show was also to come up with new designs in Lepcha attire, which would be comfortable to wear. She informed that people have been requested to bring the native ancient fabrics.
The fashion show will have ancient and contemporary designs and some Lepcha fashion designers have started working on designing Lepcha attires, which is not time consuming and is comfortable, she informed.
It is informed that they have been getting positive and encouraging response from those in the rural areas on the concept of the event who have assured to provide full support for the success of the event.
It is further informed that buyers have been invited to the event in the hope that some items could be marketed in other states. The committee has been approaching corporate houses to support the event and has further urged everyone to come forward to support the event.

Yuva Kriti Mela begins in Singtam

GANGTOK, 18 March: A three-day long state-level Yuwa Kriti Mela was inaugurated by Khamdong-Singtam MLA, Am Prasad Sharma, at Singtam Mandi Bazaar today. The event, organized by Nehru Yuwa Kendra-Gangtok, is an exhibition of items prepared by various non-governmental organizations from across the state.
On the occasion, Sonam Bhutia of Tadong and Shyamkala Dahal of Luing were awarded with State awards by the NYK Gangtok. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 15,000 each and Letters of Appreciation.  The inaugural day also included folk song and dance competitions. [NANDU DUTRAJ]

Display and sale of handloom products at Mamjey

GANGTOK, 20 Feb: District level event for display and sale of handloom products sponsored by the Office of the Development Commissioner [Handlooms], Ministry of Textiles, is being organized by the Sikkim Handloom and Handicrafts Development Corporation from 20 to 24 February at Mamjey, West Pendam.
A press release informs that the event was inaugurated by Zilla member of West Pendam, Sunita Rai. A total of 15 stalls are put up at the exhibition-cum-sale by different Self Help Groups from within and outside the state. Among the 15 stalls five have been sponsored by NABARD for product display, the release mentions.
Live demonstration of handloom weaving on frame looms and items produced during Integrated Handloom Development Scheme [IHDS] training were also kept for display. The inaugural function was also attended by all Gram Panchayat members of West Pendam, AGM [NABARD], Om Prakash, Asst Director [East] DHH, Jigme Pinstso Bhutia, Asst Director [IHDS] DHH, BB Gurung, RDW [SRDA] under RMDD, TR Sharma, local gentry and members of NGOs and SHGs.

Sikkim artist lines up solo exhibition in Mumbai

DOMA LHAMU GYALTSEN TO UNVEIL ‘TRANSIENCE’ AT “THE ARTIST’S CENTRE” NEXT MONDAY
GANGTOK, 12 Dec: Gangtok’s Doma Lhamu Gyaltsen is striding strong in her creative pursuits and will flaunt her individuality at a solo exhibition of her ceramic sculptures at Mumbai’s prestigious “The Artist’s Centre” next week. “Transience”, an exhibition of 14 artworks crafted by Doma over three years scheduled to begin its weeklong solo run at The Artist’s Centre on 19 December, in the artist’s own words “revolves around ideas germinating from globalisation, the creation of a united atmosphere for mankind which I realised during my metamorphosis of inner self.”

Deepen Pradhan bags bronze at SINE 2011

SINGTAM, 05 Dec: Deepen Pradhan from Rhenock won a bronze medal in the Stamps of India National Exhibition 2011 held at New Delhi from 03-06 Nov. Deepen had mounted a collection of stamps on the theme ‘Pre-Independence Indian Stamps’.

Sikkim bags second prize at Bio Fach Intl Organic Trade Fair

GANGTOK, 16 Nov: To develop market for organic produce of Sikkim, SIMFED along with the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture & Sikkim Organic Mission participated in Bio-Fach International Organic Trade Fair 2011 at Bangalore and exhibited the produce of Sikkim.

Nayuma Cooperative offers women chance to not only shop, but also sell homemade products

LIFESTYLE EXHIBITION CUM SALE BEGINS IN NAMCHI
PURAN TAMANG
NAMCHI, 26 May: A “Lifestyle Exhibition-cum-Sale” was inaugurated here at the Parking Plaza-cum-Shopping Complex by chairman, Tea Board, Gagan Rai. This, incidentally, is the first exhibition-cum-sale of such scale in the South District Headquarter town and has been organised by the Nayuma Women’s Cooperative Society Ltd. A unique feature of the sale is that interested women with homemade products to sell can contact the organisers and get space to sell the products. The Cooperative Society does not plan to charge any fee from such ladies and has even offered to help them with marketing!
The organising committee of the cooperative society informed media persons that the main motive of the sale was to encourage local people to do something to become a self-reliant. The event, they add, will also offer visitors better products at lower prices.

'Painters of Kanchenjunga' come to town

GANGTOK, 06 March: An exhibition of works by the 'Painters of Kanchenjunga', Nicholas Roerich and Svetoslav Roerich opened to the public on Saturday evening at the First Floor, Rachna Books.

Nicholas Konstantinovich Roerich was a Russian artist, writer, philosopher with a love for travelling, who, during the 1920s, initiated a treaty for the protection of cultural product and activity of the world, both during war and peace known as the Roerich Pact. The Roerich family first came to Darjeeling in 1923 when it was still a part of Sikkim. They travelled around West Sikkim, visiting old monasteries of Pemayangste, Sangachoeling and Tashiding. Nicholas, besotted and inspired by the beauty of the Kanchenjunga, painted three series of canvas between 1924 and 1925. Out of the 7000 paintings by the artist, 4000 have the Himalayas as their subject.

Svetoslav Roerich, the youngest son of Nicholas and Helena Roerich, joined his family in Sikkim in 1928. An architect, painter, botanist, he was also recognised as a fine portraitist and landscape painter. He founded the International Roerich Memorial Trust in Bangalore and the College of Fine Arts, Bangalore University. Around four of his paintings are on display at the exhibition.

The family continued their travels through Central Asia, returning to India on and off. Nicholas Roerich died in Kullu in 1947 and in 1949, Helena and George Roerich, the eldest son, settled down in Crookety House in Kalimpong. Helena died in October 1955 and was cremated on Durpin Dara hill.

In 1928 the family established the Urusvati Himalayan Research Institute in the Kullu valley, Himachal Pradesh.

The exhibition which is hosted by Darjeeling Goodwill Centre will be on till 18 March. Post cards of the paintings, posters, and books are also on sale at the exhibition. Speaking to media persons at the exhibition yesterday, Fiorenza, informed that, a museum is being set up at the Crookety House, Kalimpong in collaboration with the Darjeeling Goodwill Centre, of which she is the Co-ordinator.

Exhibition of Roerich paintings of Khangchendzonga at Rachna Books

GANGTOK, 04 March: Rachna Books here at Development Area will be hosting a special exhibition which will offer audiences here with a rare peek into the art of Russian mytic, Tibetologist, philosopher and artist, Nicolas Roerich, and his equally gifted son, Svetoslav Roerich. Starting Saturday evening [5:30 p.m.], “Painters of Kangchenjunga”, an exhibition of paintings by the duo will be opened for public viewing at the First Floor at Rachna. The event, hosted here by “Friends at Rachna”, has been brought to Sikkim by the Darjeeling Goodwill Centre, and will include an introduction to the Roerich family by Fiorenza Bortolotti.