‘United we stand, divided we fall’

MG MARG PANG LHABSOL CELEBRATES SIKKIMESE UNITY
ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 31 Aug: Pang Lhabsol was celebrated here at the Statue of Unity premises on MG Marg today on the theme ‘United We Stand, Divided We Fall’. Organized by the Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee, the function had Speaker KT Gyaltsen as the chief guest.
The celebration kicked off with traditional ritual offerings by monks and bongthings at the Statue of Unity complex. Addressing the celebration later, Speaker Mr Gyaltsen underlined that Pang Lhabsol is a festival that signifies brotherhood and unity. He went on to add that the existing peace, unity and bond of brotherhood between different communities in Sikkim reflects the essence of this festival.
Peace and unity has become the identity of Sikkim and it is the responsibility of the present generation to pass it on to many generations to come, Mr Gyaltsen added.
The programme was also addressed by HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan, Gangtok MLA Dorjee Namgyal who is also the Advisor PLCC, and president of the PLCC,  T Lachungpa where they collectively called on the people of Sikkim to continue to stay united and set an example for the world when it comes to maintaining peace and tranquillity.
Cultural competitions formed the heart of the Pang Lhabsol celebration here in Gangtok wherein the PLCC had organised interschool and open folk dance competition.  Sir Tashi Namgyal Senior Secondary School walked away with the winner’s trophy in the inter-school category followed by West Point Senior Secondary School and Tadong Senior Secondary School in the second and third positions respectively.
The top three schools were awarded trophies, certificates and cash awards of Rs.10000, Rs.8000 and Rs.6000 respectively. While in the open category, Danceshala Tibet Road emerged as the champions followed by Anmol Society and Sanskriti Sangrakshan Samiti, 5th Mile Tadong taking the second and third spots respectively.
The top three groups in the open category were also awarded with trophies, certificates and cash award of Rs.10000, Rs.8000 and Rs.6000 respectively. Similarly, the PLCC also gave away consolation cash prizes to all the participating groups apart from the winners.