Jorethang Maghey Mela begins with prayers for earthquake victims

PURAN TAMANG
JORETHANG, 15 Jan: Jorethang’s biggest annual event, the Maghey Mela, began on 14 Jan on a sombre note this year. The Maghey Mela began with a homage to lives lost in 18 Sept Earthquake and the organisation committee has left out all events and zones of entertainment this year.
The Mela Celebration Committee organized special prayers for the earthquake victims on the inaugural day which had Animal Husbandry Minister Dawcho Lepcha as the chief guest accompanied by Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai and area MLA, Madan Cintury.
The Minister joined the Puran Aahuti Puja and then declared the Maghey Mela 2012 open. He, along with the MLAs also visited stalls and Menal Mela.
It may be mentioned here that the Maghey Mela is a major event here, attracting hordes of locals and tourists each year. The Mela is said to have evolved from an agricultural fair and now hundreds of stalls selling and exhibiting various products are put up for the huge number of people who visit the fair.
It is a great mix of local cultural extravaganza as well as modern day entertainment along with traditional stalls, but this year, the Celebration Committee included a fewer number of stalls and focussed essentially on agriculture, horticulture, the 7th National Expo 2012, Great India Shopping Festival exhibition-cum-sale and Menal mela for children.

In the evening, the Celebration Committee organised a candlelight procession from the Mela ground to Akkar Bridge covering the entire Jorethang bazaar and after observing two minutes of silence, the gathering offered prayers and bhajans in a Sarva Dharma Prathna Sabha for the earthquake victims.
Speaking to this correspondent, MLA Madan Cintury explained that this year, the Jorethang Maghey Mela was not about entertainment but more about sharing the grief that the 18 Sept earthquake brought. He informed that the Celebration Committee has organised prayers by all faiths followed by the people of Sikkim.