Documentary film on Pang Lhabsol to premiere on Wednesday

Pang Lhanbsol, a festival unique to Sikkim held in worship of its guardian deity Dzonga and Sikkim's other land guardian deities, falls on Saturday, 29 August, this year. Making the celebrations even more special this time will be the release of a documentary film on the festival, “Pang Lhabsol: Sikkim’s National Ritual of the Land and its Guardian Deities”, on Wednesday, 26 August. Produced by the Namgyal Instituted of Tibetology and helmed by Dr. Anna Balikci Denjongpa as Anthropologist and Project Coordinator, the 1:06 hour long documentary features cinematography by Phurba T. Bhutia [who has also edited the feature], Birendra Rai and Dawa T. Lepcha. Filmed at location across Sikkim over the past decade or so, the documentary, in keeping with other NIT productions, promises to be exhaustive and authoritative. The premiere is scheduled for 26 August, 2 p.m. at the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and is open to all.

Rabong warms up with sports for Pang Lhabsol supplications

The 2014 Pang Lhabsol celebrations have begun in Rabongla, South Sikkim with the Intra State Volleyball Tournament on 28 August where over 28 teams are participating for a prize money of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 for the winners and runners-up respectively. The finals of the tournament will be held on 08 September. On 02 September, the National Open Volleyball Tournament began while the Buddha Rim One Day Cross Country Mountain Biking Challenge was also held on the day. The volleyball tourney has six teams comprising of players from the national team from Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jharkhand, Assam and Nepal Armed Police are competing. The finals of this tourney will be held on 09 September. A photo exhibition - Historical perspective of Sikkim from the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology collection and a retrospective of the works of Sikkim’s pioneering photographers Yap Tse Ten Tashi and Yap Paljor Dorji Tashi curated by Tenzin C Tashi - is also part of the celebration along with other attractions like the Monsoon Marathon and Beat Contest Final on 08 September.

[photographs: JIGME BHUTIA]

Pang Lhabsol celebration at MG Marg

NO CULTURAL PROGRAMME THIS TIME
GANGTOK, 01 Sept: Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee 2014 called a meeting on Sunday to discuss preparations for the festival of the unity which is slated to be held from 07-09 September 2014 here in the capital.
During the meeting, president for the celebration committee, Thukchuk Lachungpa informed that this time there will be no cultural programmes owing to the ongoing construction of the dome over the Statue of Unity above MG Marg.
"We will be organising a grand Puja at the Statue of Unity. On the first day we will have a small Puja while on the final day we will host the Puja in a grand manner", said Mr Lachungpa.
A similar meeting will be held on 07 September, he informed and also urged the public to give their feedback for the Pang Lhabsol celebration. He expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling for supporting the construction of the Dome.
The meeting was attended by representatives of different associations as well.


 

Dzongu residents and their unique Pang Lhabsol at Tholung Monastery

Karma R. T. W
Pang Lhabsol, a festival commemorating the conservation of Mt. Khangchendzonga as the guardian deity of the state, is unique to Sikkim. The actual origin of the festival is said to be the blood-brotherhood pact between the Lepcha bongthing, Thekung Tek and Khye-Bumsa, the ancestor of the Namgyal royal family.
The people of Dzongu celebrate Pang Lhabsol at the Tholung Monastery in North Sikkim. Their rituals are a bit unique in nature. Unlike the rest of Sikkim, the people of Dzongu make their offerings to the relics of the late Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal.
Tholung Monastery is sacred because it was founded by the reincarnation of Lhatsun Chenpo in the late 18th century during the Gorkha invasion, which destroyed the Rabdentse capital. The relics and belongings of Lhatsun Chenpo are kept in secure cupboards at the monastery [shifted from Pemyangtse Monastery following the Gorkha invasion], while the relics of Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal are kept in a ku-dung (reliquary) on the ground floor of the Monastery.
Local legend suggests that the Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal desired that his remains be sent to the Tholung Monastery. Located at an altitude of 8500 feet in Upper Dzongu, to reach the Monastery one has to trek for about 15km from Lingzya village. After the death of Chogyal Tsugphud Namgyal, a lama escorted his relics from West Sikkim to Tholung. On his journey a Lepcha man made an offering of meat to the relics and with this started the tradition of non-vegetarian offerings as an annual ritual.
This offering was discontinued in the year 1975, but by the 1980’s the local villagers complained of wild animals attacking their livestock at night. Every precaution was taken, but they could not stop the attacks. The people around the Monastery too started falling ill. In order to take care of the existing problem a lama was called upon. The lama sent his junior with his prayer beads and asked him to spend the night at the Monastery’s main door. The next day the junior lama reported that at night loud noises were heard from within the Monastery and the Chogyal’s ku-dung. After a while the wild animals leapt out from within the Monastery and the Chogyal too followed the pack with his bow and arrow. The story goes that on hearing this, the lama gave his junior a Dorje and asked him to sleep at the Monastery for the second night. This time only loud noises kept coming from within the Monastery but no animals sprung out. This was interpreted to signal the Chogyal’s demand for the reinstatement of the animal sacrifice and offerings.
Since then, each year different wards of Dzongu take turns to make the offerings, which consist of a pig, fermented millet along with dried and crushed maize. The prayers for the Pang Lhabsol start the night before and continue till the next day. The morning of the festival begins with the offerings being laid out in front of the late Chogyal’s ku-dung. The kaso lama (local priest) conducts the prayers, after which the offerings are taken and distributed among the devotees present.
There was an instance, where a particular ward had offered a huge cucumber instead of a pig. That year the locals of that ward experienced several cases of stomach illness. Hence to avoid the wrath of the late Chogyal, the Lepcha community of Dzongu makes offerings every year.
This year the turn for the offering was of the people of Sakyong and Sangtok ward. The landslide caused by last year’s earthquake has made the trek to the Monastery a difficult one. Despite the downpour the concerned residents braved it to the destination and arrived by nightfall.
This is how the people of Dzongu celebrate Pang Lhabsol.  

Lesser Known Aspects of Pang Lhabsol

The rise in popularity of the annual Pang Lhabsol festival has also seen a dilution of the religious aspects associated with it, the puja by the Teesta Bongthing being one such tradition on the verge of extinction, writes SD TSHERING…
The puja of Pang Lhabsol is mentioned in the Nyesol which was composed by Lhastun Chempo after he discovered the Ter of Rigdzin Sokdrup (Wyl.rig 'dzinsrogsgrub) or 'Accomplishing the Life-Force of the Vidyadharas' — a cycle of teachings revealed by him after a pure vision he had while meditating in the Cave of the Heart of the Deity to the north of Drakkar Tashiding in Sikkim. The cycle includes the famous practice of Riwo Sangchö. Nyesol contains the pujas related to the guardian deities of Sikkim which includes the Pang Lhabsol puja. Pang Lhabsol celebration has evolved since the Chogyal era from a purely religious affair to a socio-religious festival. Pang Lhabsol received a great boost during the reign of Chador Namgyal. In 1700, Chador Namgyal, seized the throne after his father’s death; he was a minor at that time. This outraged his elder half-sister Pendi Ongmu, daughter of the first wife, who ousted him with the help of the Bhutanese. Chador fled to Tibet where he remained in exile for ten years before returning and reclaiming his lost territory with the help of the Tibetans. While in Lhasa, Chador Namgyal became very proficient in Buddhism and Tibetan literature, and became the state astrologer to the sixth Dalai Lama. The sixth Dalai Lama, pleased with the erudition of Chador Namgyal, conferred on him exclusive rights to an estate in Tibet. He returned to Sikkim after the withdrawal of Bhutanese forces from Sikkim due to intervention from Tibet. He commanded that the second of every three sons of a Bhutia family must be ordained a monk of the Pemiongchi Monastery. He choreographed the Pangtoed chaam after getting a vision of the dance while in a meditative trance. Pangtoed chaam depicts the war of the generals of Khangchendzonga against evil to safeguard Sikkim. The chaam was also meant to keep alive the martial and native traditions.
During the Chogyal era, emphasis was mainly on performance of pujas but it has now transformed into celebration of the blood brotherhood swearing at Kabi Lungchock. Pang Lhabsol during the Chogyal era was celebrated at Tsuklhakhang at Gangtok though pujas were performed in all monasteries. It was customary for all villages to come to Gangtok bringing offerings to Tsuklhakhang monastery for the puja. The only exception was made to Bey, Lingzya and Tholung villages of Dzongu who were exempted from bringing offering to Gangtok due to the historical event connected to the funeral of Chogyal Tsuphud Namgyal in which these three villages were the main patrons. These three villages made their offerings at Tholung monastery and performed their pujas there. Tsuklhakhang monastery was also the venue for the Pangtoed chaam which was only performed here. The Pangtoed dancers were carefully chosen from certain castes and it was an honour to be chosen to perform the chaam. Two horses were especially bred to act as the mounts of deity Khangchendzonga and Yabdue during the Pangtoed chaam. These horses were chosen according to the specification laid down in the paychas and had to conform strictly to it. Both horses were never shod and were not used for any other purpose except for the puja.
Before the celebration at Gangtok, special threads woven from wool at the palace were sent to Pemayangtse monastery and to a Bongthing at Teesta along with other offerings for pujas to be performed at Yangdzo Drakin West Sikkim, the sacred rock symbolizing the deities of Rigdzin Sokdrup which was sanctified by Lhastun Chempo and at the four sacred caves and at Teesta. Prior to the pujas at Tsuklhakhang, a Bongthing from Nung in Dzongu used to come to the monastery to perform the pujas according to the old traditional way. This bongthing was especially trained for performing this puja and it was carried down their family for generations. It was said that when the Bongthing started his journey from Dzongu for Gangtok he was accompanied with a storm which was actually the manifestations of the guardian deities which were accompanying him. The people of Dzongu avoided the path the bongthing took on his trip to Gangtok to avoid harm by the deities. The origin of bongthings according to one song begins with the story of six Lepcha brothers who decide to become Kong Chen's (Kanchenjunga's) soldiers. When they tell their sister, she promises her brothers that when she bears children she will ensure that they worship Kong Chen and his soldiers.  On bearing a son, however, she forgets her promise and as a result Kong Chen sends a mythical serpent that coils itself at his feet across the Talung river that flows through Dzongu, damming it. As the river begins to flood, causing general panic, the son prays to Kong Chen and the waters recede. This boy, according to legend, became the first Bongthing.
Under the Chogyals, the annual ritual used to be preceded by a trek by the Bongthing, accompanied by young men from Nung, to Sikkim's capital at Tumlong near Dzongu, where they would be received by the reigning Chogyal and entertained at the royal palace. The Khangchendzonga Bongthing was especially feted. Apart from the offerings for the prayers, the Bongthing was provided ration for the year, a new set of clothes, money and gifts. In the days when the importance of the prayers was recognized, the entourage from Nung would stop at several places along the way to offer prayers at special locations on the return journey. They would take four days to reach Nung, where it normally took just a day and half. With their return would begin the Khangchendzonga prayers.
An important part of the royal offering used to be a full grown Yak bull to be offered as sacrifice at the Khangchendzonga altar at Nung. In 1973, however, the Chogyal decreed that a yak sacrifice, which had been part of the ancient ritual, should be discontinued as being against the tenets of Buddhism. Taso, it is said, believed that the discontinuation of the sacrifice displeased Kong Chen and brought an end to the 300-year-old Namgyal dynasty of the Chogyals. The last of the Nung bonthings was Samdup Tasho who passed away last year. The Khangchendzonga Bongthing used to be held in high esteem and people would make way for him when he approached. His house, now a dilapidated shell of a cottage, used to be known as Rum Vik, the Teeth of God, [Vik means both soldier and teeth in Lepcha], a name perhaps earned because of the presence of an elephant tusk – a gift from the Chogyal - that enjoyed pride of place in his altar. Alternately, Rum Vik could also mean the Soldier of God. The Bongthing’s ancestors were after all the first Lepchas to enlist as Khangchendzonga’s soldiers.

Bongthing Pem Tshering

The puja at Teesta was also performed by another Bongthing to appease the guardian dieties of Teesta and of the plains. In olden days the puja used to be performed in a jungle above Kali Jhora above Teesta but this was discontinued when the Bongthings were attacked by tigers and other wild animals. The old puja site is said to be about a five-hour hike from Kali Jhora bazaar in the jungle. Two lakes are said to have existed there one with a blood red colour and the other a milky white colour. The present Bongthing, Pem Tshering who is eighty one years old is the forty fifth generation of bongthings in his family. His family has been performing this puja for over two hundred and fifty years. He was trained by his father Pembu Lepcha for performing this puja and he started in 1962 after the death of his father. Pem Tshering was born at Changra basti above Teesta bazaar where he leads a very humble life dedicated to his puja duties. Animal sacrifices were performed during the pujas which has been discontinued. Besides performing the Pang Lhabsol puja the Bongthing also performs daily pujas for the benefit of Sikkim. The present altar site at Changra basti was purchased by the Chogyal for performing the puja.The puja at this site was started by the grand father of Pem Tshering due to the dangers at the Kali Jhora site. At present, the puja at Changra basti is sponsored by the Tsuklhakhang commitee; Rs 8000 is given to the bongthing as his yearly fee and for performing the puja. The local people of this basti also attend the puja. It may be mentioned that the puja site has been affected by a landslide and needs urgent repairs. Bongthing Pem Tshering has no son and he has trained his nephew to continue the tradition after him but how long this tradition continues will depend on the interest of the Sikkimese people in upholding this rich heritage of the state or like SamdupTasho, the Teesta bongthing too will also pass away due to our inattention. After Pangtoed chaam was stopped at Tsuklakhang in the eighties, the chaam was performed at Pemayangtse and Rabong which boosted Pang Lhabsol celebrations in these areas. Though the popularity of Pang Lhabsol has grown, the religious aspects of the festival is being diluted with more emphasis on cultural features, it would be a shame to lose such a rich religious heritage due to stress on popular demands.
[The writer is Director General-cum-Secretary, DESME, Government of Sikkim]

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.

‘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.

Local talents to shine at MG Marg Pang Lhabsol

PRAYERS BEGIN AT STATUE OF UNITY
GANGTOK, 30 Aug: Gangtok is all set to celebrate Pang Lhabsol in a grand manner and a strong focus on cultural activities here at MG Marg on Friday. Speaker, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, KT Gyaltsen, is scheduled to attend the function as chief guest. Meanwhile, prayers at the Statue of Unity premises began this evening itself.
“This year the festival is dedicated to our local talents and we are giving more emphasis on prayers for peace in the state to ensure the wellness of people here in Sikkim. May this festival bring joy and happiness in their life always,” expressed Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee president, T Lachungpa, while speaking to media persons today.
A total of 35 cultural troupes including schools, clubs and NGOs are scheduled to perform during the celebration tomorrow.
Mr Lachungpa added that Pang Lhabsol is one of its kind, celebrated only in Sikkim this festival represents unity, prosperity, peace and brotherhood of the people of the state. He further added that this festival is celebrated every year to bring peace, unity, prosperity and brotherhood in the state. This festival is not only of one or two communities but of every Sikkimese, said Mr Lachungpa.
On behalf of the celebration committee, Mr Lachungpa welcomed everyone to be part of the festival to promote peace, prosperity and unity among the people

Ravangla to crown 3-day event with Pangtoed chaam today

ANUSHA GURUNG
GANGTOK, 30 Aug: The 29th Pang Lhabsol Festival at Ravangla was inaugurated by the Tourism Minister, Bhim Dhungel yesterday. The festival is being celebrated from 29-31 August at Ravangla and after a series of sports and cultural events, the celebration will conclude Friday with the traditional Pangtoed chaam at the Maneychokerling complex there.
This year’s Pang Lhabsol celebration featured rural sports and cultural competitions besides the usual musical programmes.
Minister Mr Dhungel also inaugurated the Horticulture and Handicrafts and Handlooms stalls. One of the highlight of this year’s festivities is the volleyball tournament wherein a total of 26 teams participated.  The semifinal of the tourney was played on 29 August between Sumbuk Melli and Daramdin.
In the semi final, Daramdin outplayed its opponent 3-1 points to enter into the finals of the tournament. The winner of the tournament will be awarded with Rs. 50,000 while the runners up will receive Rs. 30,000 along with trophies.
On the occasion, the Minister in his address said that the Pang Lhabsol festival has become a tourist attraction giving visitors a taste of Sikkimese traditions like community lifestyle, food, rituals, etc. “May this festival bring peace and unity among us”, said the Minister extending his greetings to all the people of the state.

Preparations begin for Pang Lhabsol festivities at MG Marg

GANGTOK, 05 August: “This year, the Pang Lhabsol celebrations at MG Marg will be grand like always and with more emphasis on prayers and rituals,” announced Thukchuk Lachungpa at a press briefing today. The prayers, he informed, will begin on the eve, 30 August, itself while the auditions for the cultural programme will be held on 26 August for student groups and other clubs at BL House. The theme, like every year, will be unity.
District troupes from all over the State will be present on the day which also feature the inauguration of  new stage at the venue. This time, the emphasis will be on local talent, Mr. Lachungpa informed.
The HRDD Minister, NK Prdhan, who chairs the organising committee, further informed that the festival’s observance her will be modelled as a complete Sikkimese festival worked around the theme of unity that the festival of Pang Lhabsol signifies for the State and its people.

Pang Lhabsol underlines Sikkim’s bond with nature: CM

SIKKIM PROPITIATES ITS GUARDIAN DEITYNAMCHI, 12 Sept: Pang Lhabsol, the propitiation of Sikkim’s guardian deities supreme among whom is Dzonga who resides on the summit of Khangchendzonga, was celebrated in a unique blend of tradition and rustic festivity here at Rabongla today with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chief guest. This was the 28th episode of Pang Lhabsol celebrations hosted at the Mane Chokerling complex above Rabong town. The celebration at Ralong Monastery a short distance away and under which the Mane Chokerling falls, however, is of much older antiquity.

Performing artists sign up in record numbers for Pang Lhabsol at MG Marg

GANGTOK, 09 Sept: Twenty one clubs [in the open category] and 22 schools will be performing on 12 September, during this year’s Pang Lhabsol celebrations here at MG Marg, informed KN Subedi [culture secretary, Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee, Gangtok].
“Since there are more participants this year even after the screening process, we will be reducing their time limit by one to one and a half minute, so instead of the regular five minutes, they will be given three to three and a half minutes to perform,” he added.

Pang Lhabsol festivities begin in Ravangla

NAMCHI, 05 Sept: The weeklong Pang Lhabsol celebration in Ravangla began today at the Mane Chokerling complex there. The festival of peace and harmony when the Sikkimese worship their guardian deity, Khangchendzonga, will conclude here on 12 Sept.
Today, on the inaugural day of the festival, Parliament Secretary, Namchi-Singithang MLA, Binod Rai, was present as the chief guest.
A variety of cultural performances by the schools and youth clubs from surrounding areas marked the first day’s celebrations.

Pang Lhabsol at Rabong to feature felicitation of local artists

GANGTOK, 25 Aug: The Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee [PLCC], Rabongla, is working on a war-footing in preparation for Pang Lhabsol festivities at Kagyud Thekchenling Monastery from 10 to 12 September.
The curtain raiser of the festival is scheduled for 05 September with an important annual highlight of the festival, the Open Volleyball tournament, which carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh for the winners and Rs 1 lakh for the runners-up.