Khamsel at Tholung Monastery from 21 to 24 Nov

MANGAN, 22 Oct: The much revered Tholung monastery in Upper Dzongu, North Sikkim that houses relics belonging to Lhatsun Chenpo, will host the Khamsel ceremony from 21 to 24 November this year, coinciding with Lhabab Duechen. This was decided today in a preparatory meeting for the ceremony chaired by DC [North], CP Dhakal along with the Tholung Monastery committee, officials from line department and the Panchayat members.  
This time, the North District Administration and Khamsel Ceremony committee have unanimously decided to organize the ceremony in a grand manner. Tholung Monastery hosts the Khamsel ceremony every three years when the clothes and other belongings of Lhatsun Chenpo are put on display for devotees who come from across the world under the supervision of the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department.
During the meeting, various aspects such as road connectivity, sanitation, accommodation and basic amenities for visitors, security etc were discussed at length. One such important component, electricity supply was extensively affected by the 2011 earthquake and in this connection DM, North, Mr. Dhakal has asked the Superintendent Engineer, North, Power Department to look at alternative remedies like installing generators.
Similarly, Deputy Secretary, RMDD, was asked to initiate necessary action for sanitation, AE, Passingdang, BAC, has been entrusted with the restoration work of foot-path as early as possible. Regarding medical facilities, CMO, North, Dr. DS Kerongi was  asked to make medical teams available at two points - one at Tumlung forest guest house (on the way to Tholung Gumpa) and the other at the monastery itself while SP [North], RN Yadav assured to provide police personnel for security measures.
DM North advised the committee to approach the Tourism Department for assistance regarding accommodation of visitors. Mr. Dhakal informed that Rs 5 lakh has been sanctioned by the Department of LR&DM for reconstruction log-bridges and committee to start the construction immediately.
JD, Ecclesiastical Department informed the house that as per the demand placed by the Khamsel ceremony committee, the department has approved and sanctioned an amount of Rs 2 lakh for the Khamsel ceremony.  It is also learnt that porters will also be available for hire for the walk up to the monastery.

Public and committee request for early reconstruction of Tholung monastery

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 04 Sept: Tholung Monastery in Upper Dzongu which suffered substantial damage in last year’s earthquake still awaits reconstruction and renovation work. The posts and pillars of the monastery are almost tilting and appear structurally compromised even as most of the partition walls have collapsed and severe cracks have developed in the remaining partitions. All the belongings of the monastery have been shifted to the Sheda building attached to the monastery.
Panchayat Secretary, Bey ward, Nima Lepcha, while speaking to NOW!, informed that the Ecclesiastical Department had provided an initial amount of Rs. 5 lakh as earthquake relief for Tholung monastery which was utilised in the maintenance of kitchen, footpath to Tholung and other expenses incurred while shifting the belongings of the monastery to the Sheda.
Similarly, the Zilla Member Sakyong-Pentong GPU, Topnam Lepcha who is also a committee member of Tholung Monastery, informed that recently the department had sanctioned Rs. 10 lakh for renovation of the monastery and added that the Gumpa Committee is not sure if this amount would be enough for restoration works.
He further informed that the construction of the Khamsel Lhakhang has been delayed due to the disruption of power supply to Tholung. The power supply line from Bey to Tholung was extensively damaged in the 18 Sept 2011 earthquake.
It may be mentioned here that the Tholung Monastery hosts the auspicious “Khamsel” ceremony every three years when the clothes and other belongings of Lhatsun Chenpo are put on display for devotees who come from across the world. Owing to the lack of space at the monastery, the Khamsel Lhakang was being constructed with a pavilion for this ceremony.
The public and the committee members have requested that the monastery be reconstructed with the same design and size. At present, prayers are being conducted on the ground floor of the under construction Khamsel Lhakang located behind the monastery.
Power Minister, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha who is also the area MLA Dzongu on being asked if the monastery will be reconstructed said that the decision to either renovate or reconstruct the monastery would be taken following the report of technical experts and engineers from the concerned department.
He further informed that, accessibility being a problem, the technical experts had not been able to reach the area till now but with the pathway restored work may begin soon.

Power Minister treks to Tholung to assess progress of restoration work at monastery and pathway

MANGAN, 02 Sept: Dzongu MLA, Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, was on a three-day tour to Tholung which falls under Bey ward of Sakyong-Pentong GPU in Upper Dzongu, North Sikkim in order to take stock of the progress of restoration of the damaged pathway from Bey to Tholung and damages to the Tholung monastery caused by last year’s earthquake.
The Minister started his tour on foot on 30 August from Salim-Pakel to the CWC bridge near Passingdang and then onwards from 10th Mile Lingzya to Tholung via Bey crossing more than 15 landslides and a section where a log bridge has also been washed out. The entourage returned to Mangan on 01 Sept.
The Minister also visited the “Thigang”, a sacred spot an hour and a half trek from Tholung and offered prayers there.
The panchayat and public of Bey placed a demand petition to the Minister regarding the fencing of Tholung Gumpa compound and the provision for installation of solar light at the Gumpa premises.
Later, while speaking to NOW!, the Minister said that the path to Tholung from Bey will be upgraded with permanent log bridges across different kholas and nalas which have been washed out by landslides after last year’s earthquake for the convenience of the devotees and local people.
On restoration of the Tholung Monastery, the Minister said that work will begin after the report of the technical experts and engineers from the concerned department which will also determine whether renovation or reconstruction needs to be undertaken. He also informed that priority will be given to the genuine demands placed by the people.
The Minister also expressed his satisfaction over the progress of work of Khamsel Lhakang for which an initial amount of Rs. 1 crore was sanctioned. Here, he said that the construction work amounting to the sanctioned amount has been carried out so far. He also interacted with the Gumpa Committee.
The Minister was accompanied by panchayat secretary Bey ward, Nima Lepcha, panchayat vice president Sakyong-Pentong GPU, Phurba Lepcha, panchayat secretary Lum/Gor/Sangtok, Tshering Gyatso Lepcha, panchayat members Topgay Lepcha, Dawa Lepcha and Nimket Lepha along with youth.

Under-construction Khamsel Lhakang at Tholung hosts Pang Lhabsol prayers

MANGAN, 02 Sept: Pang Lhabsol celebrations at Tholung Monastery in North Sikkim coincided with the annual “Zejhu” prayer at the monastery. Around 60 monks from Bey, Lingzya, Sakyong-Pentong and Tholung offered prayers which started a day earlier with the chanting of prayers Rigzing Chokpa initiated by the Tsultrimpha and Dorjee Lopon of the monastery.
Owing to the damages sustained by the monastery in last year’s earthquake, the Pang Lhabsol rituals were performed at the ground floor of the under-construction Khamsel Lhakang.
This year, the annual offering of “Zejhu” at Tholung was offered by Sakyong and Sangtok wards of Lower Dzongu as zindas (patrons) of the prayer. The next day “Zenshi” shapten was conducted and “tsog” (Prasad) was distributed to all the devotees.
The Tholung Gumpa committee expressed it gratitude to all the zindas and devotees for making the puja a success.
The celebration was also attended by the Power Minister, Dzongu MLA Sonam Gyatso Lepcha.

Disrupted power supply holds up Khamsel Lakhang construction at Tholung

MANGAN, 16 Dec: Electricity supply to Tholung Gumpa in North Sikkim, sourced from Bey, had been installed for the first time on 09 September by the Power & Energy Department, but collapsed within 10 days in the hands of the 18 September Earthquake. The substantial loss is made worse for people here by the fact that the already delayed Khamsel Lakhang construction work at the monastery has been held up again due to the disruption in power supply.

Tholung Monastery treasures shifted to safer location, security posted

ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS OFFICIALS REACH THOLUNG
GANGTOK, 22 Oct: A team of officials from the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department flew to Tholung Monastery in Upper Dzongu on 19 October and had the sacred relics and articles housed there shifted to a safer location. A detail of three police guards has also been posted at the monastery and the Department has assured that “our treasure is safely kept and guarded by police personnel”.

Ecclesiastical Deptt’s inability to assess damage or even visit the damaged Tholung Monastery peeves residents

MANGAN, 10 Oct: The much-revered Tholung monastery in Upper Dzongu, which houses relics belonging to Lhatsun Chenpo [including his hand-written autobiography], has sustained extensive damage due to the 18 September Earthquake and while this itself has the people concerned, they are also upset that despite the importance of the monastery and what it houses, no one from the Ecclesiastical Department has visited the monastery thus far to assess the damage or arrange proper safekeeping of its relics.