Rakdong felicitates philanthropic senior citizen on Sakewa

MANGAN, 23 MAY: Sakewa, the most important festival of the Rai community, was celebrated here at Rakdong in East Sikkim with a special event organized by the Akhil Kirat Rai Sangh unit of Tumin-Lingee constituency. The function was chaired by Lhakila Tongden Lepcha, member, State Planning Commission, as a chief guest and had Zilla member Saraswati Regmi as a special guest.
The celebration began with the observance of “Chandi Purnima” with Mangpas (the Rai priests) performing the “Paruhang Sumnima” rituals. Food stalls stocked with traditional Rai delicacies and a museum display of antiques collected from Rai households were well received by people who turned up for the celebrations.
Folk dances performed by students of Rakdong JHS, Sunrise School, cultural troupes from Upper Rakdong, Lower Rakdong and Yangthang added to the entertainment quotient of the day’s events.

Also on the day, senior citizen, 96-year-old Laxuman Rai, of Rakdong basti was felicitated by members of Nawa Yuva Samiti of Rakdong as a gesture of gratitude for having donated land to the Samiti.
The day began with a welcome address by the AKRS president for Tuming-Lingee, TB Subba, while the chief advisor [AKRS, Tumin Lingee], Arjun Rai, spoke on the importance of the festival and its traditional role in bringing people together. He also recorded gratitude towards the Chief Minister for having resurrected this important festival of the Rai community which was fading into oblivion at one time but is now celebrated across the State and even observed as a State Holiday.
Ms. Tongden, in her address, highlighted that the present State Government under the leadership of the Chief Minister had secured the cultural roots of all the communities of the State making grand celebrations such as the one at Rakdong possible. She also congratulated the AKRS for having organised such a colorful observance.
Also present for the function were KB CHettri (Manager, Insurance Company), Naresh Chettri (social worker), BR Giri (retired teacher), Ganden Lepcha (Panchayat President), Denjong Lepcha (ward Panchayat), senior citizens and the people from all walks of life.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by RB Rai, the general secretary of the organising committee.