BHAI TIKA "NEWAR"

Bhai-Tika / Bhai-Teeka Bhai tika is the last day of Diwali celebrations in Nepal. It is the most important day and is also known as Bhai tihar. On this the sisters pray for her brother's long life and prosperity. However, there are many mythical stories, like the Yama had sent messages in the form of dogs and crows. At this time, Bali Hang's sister guarded him by sending messages that he could take him only after fulfilling certain conditions; that the god of death should wait till Panchami ie bhai tika. She also put forth conditions that Yama should not take Bali Hang until the tika, which she had smeared on his forehead, fades away, the water sprinkled dries and the makhmali (a kind of flower) flower wilts.

Hira Devi Waiba [the pioneer of Nepali folk songs]

Hira Devi Waiba was a legend of Nepali folk [MARUNI] singer from Darjeeling, India. She came from a family of musicians from Ambotia near Kurseong and is hailed as the pioneer of Nepali folk songs in India. She has sung nearly 300 folk songs during her musical career spanning 40 years. Her singing career began when she recorded three songs in Kurseong for Radio Nepal in 1966. She worked as an announcer at the All India Radio station in Kurseong from 1963 to 1965. She was also a Nepali folk singer with All India Radio. She is the only Nepali folk singer to have cut albums (in 1974 and 1978) with HMV, Kolkata. Her popular songs include Phariya Lyayidiyechhan and Ora daudi jaanda. As a tribute to her father, Waiba had opened the SM Waiba International Music and Dance Academy at her home in Kadamtala, near Siliguri in 2008. She was awarded the Mitrasen Purashkar by the Nepali Akademi of Darjeeling in 1986, the Mitrasen Smriti Puraskar by the Sikkim government in 1996, the Agam Singh Giri Puraskar in 2001 and the Gorkha Saheed Sewa Samiti’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Nepal government had awarded her the Gorkha Dakshina Bahu, Sadhana Samman and the Madhurima Phul Kumari Mahato Award. Hira Waiba died on 19 January 2011 at the age of 71 years after suffering burn injuries in a fire accident at her home.

An unusual sized moth found in Aritar, East Sikkim.

The students of Govt. Sec. School, Aritar during their education tour to the historical Aritar Monastery came across an unusual sized Moth. The moth measured 7 to 8cm in length. It was confused with a butterfly,as many of its features resembled that of a butterfly.

INDRA JATRA IN SIKKIM - 2011

INDRA JATRA ORGANIED BY SIKKIM NEWAR GUTHI AT GANGTOK 2011
Why Indra Jatra is celebrated?


Indra Jatra is a vibrant festival celebrated by Nepalese "NEWAR" community. It is belived that many centuries ago, Indra (king of Heaven)’s mother needed specially scented flowers (Parijat). Indra looked for them but could not find them in heaven. Indra discovered Parijat flowers in the Kathmandu Valley and tried to steal them for his mother. He was caught and imprisoned by people in the Valley. Indra’s mother came searching for him and people were shocked to know what they had done. They released Indra and dedicated one of the most colourful festivals of Nepal to him to calm down his anger. This festival lasts for eight days with singing, mask dancing and jubilation. Various masked dances like Pulu Kishi(elephant dance ), Lakhe, Sawa Bhakhu and Mahakali dances are performed at various places. Indra is thanked for the rains and assured once again that he is respected in the Kathmandu Valley.

We also come to hear another version of belief for the celebration of Indra Jatra which remarks that the "NEWAR" community, intimately linked the festival as devotees giving thanks to Lord Indra for rains, good crops and good harvest.

This festival has been officially declared as a State Holiday in Sikkim by the Government.

SILVER LINING

In the pupil of your eyes

Reflected are my images

It’s not a mistaken belief

Rather a truth

If you really dare

Stare me for the life ever

Dreams I awoke from,

Profound slumber

Reality bitter made me humbler

Let it be my days passing through

Old in body gay in spirit

Flowering withering yielding place

To new generation

“Grandpa, are you awake?” 

Issac Mukhia, Rhenock

[Retd. AD, HRDD]

6.8 Richter scale tremor… Was it enough to awake us?

Today, the world has already stepped into the millennium of 21st Century, where nothing has remained unexplored from the clutches of man’s perception, a century which is indeed a landmark of scientific progression and a manifestation of technological advancement. Be it a common layman or an elite individual, his existence is directly or indirectly inclined towards technological gadgets of the modern world. But, as we give a closer look at the overall scenario, we would always find ourselves entangled with the query: have we gained more than we have lost? Or have we lost more than we have gained?  In this era, economic phenomena like Globalization and Industrialization has reached its pinnacle of success, for that matter, Sikkim itself can be taken up as a biggest instance.

Sikkim, though, a tiny speck of a place, had been preaching the creeds of nature to the world, to safeguard our natural resources, prosperous culture endangered by the ravages of time. Sikkim, a place of aesthetic beauty, where nature has bestowed its divinity, where tradition religion and culture were worshipped with great devotion, humanity engraved into the very blood of people, had catered itself to a distinctive position in the world. Recapitulating the history of Sikkim, its significance is much commendable, as it stands profound with historical facts, ethnic possessions and enchanting scenic beauty, but history bearing these testimonies has corroded deliberately with the squall of time. It is evident that within a short span of a decade Sikkim has undergone an enormous change in the socio- economic sphere. Thousand of multi- storied building mushrooming every year, vehicles multiplying every day, increasing influx rate and industrial growth are the indicators of such changes, the so called ‘Development’. The recent havoc causing earthquake that shook the entire Sikkim whit a 6.8 Richter scale on 18/11 was indeed a wake- up alarm from our slumber. The tremor caused crores of devastation to life and property ripping people away from their life, property, family and shelter. Subsequently, it was speculated that most of the damage was also due to our ignorance and indifference. 6.8 Richter scale tremor… Was it enough to awake us?

It is a known fact that Sikkim unfortunately falls amongst the 5^th  earthquake prone zone of this earth. Despite knowing this facts we have constantly constructed numerous multi- storied buildings [more than our requirement], which are not earthquake resistant, multiplied the number of vehicles, massive increase in the Influx rate, numerous installations of industries and power projects [intended for development purpose]. As Newton Third Law follows “to every action there is equal and opposite reaction”, Many of our activity has undeniably brought comforts and economic prosperity, but on the contrary it has also ruined our environment and natural habitat. The closer we approach towards mechanical prosperity, the further we are alienated from the divinity of nature. Mankind is an astounding creation of nature and should live in commune with nature; else his extinction is inevitable.

Hence, the time has come for us to follow influential pragmatic approach. Several remedial strategy should be adopted which are within our potential parameter. Earthquake awareness, through NGOs, Departments and educated youths should be brought about in the society. Comprehensive studies of disaster management [especially Earthquake and Land Slide] should be implements as a mandatory course in the school, Colleges and Universities. Adoption of safety measures during the earthquake and technologies for construction of earthquake resistant house should be made public. Law which restricts the numbers of storey in a building should be enforced. Topographical structure of the land should be surveyed so as to allow construction only on the most suitable land. Many more remedial measures which are beyond my perception should be implemented, which would help curtail such disaster in the future.      

Most of the major global problems that have already crippled the world to an alarming situation like global warming, nuclear terror, terrorism and water crisis are all manmade.
It is assumed that Humanity has no more than 10 years to reverse our trend. We have created phenomenal we cannot control. 20% of the world’s population consumes 80% of its resources. The world spends 12 times more on its military expenditure than on aid to developing countries. 5,000 people a day die because of dirty drinking water; 1 billion people have no access to safe drinking water. 40% of the arable land has suffered long-term damage. Every year 13 million hectors of forest disappear. One mammal in 4, one bird in 8, one amphibian in 3 is threatened with extinction. Species are dying out at a rhythm 1,000 times faster that the natural rate. The average temperatures of the last 15 years have been the highest ever recorded. The ice- capes is 40% thinner than 40 years ago. There may be at least 200 million climate refugees within 2050. Therefore, an effort should be made to heal the frailty of modern man and resort him back in commune with nature. The recent earthquake offers a platform for an introspective contemplation for us, to evaluate our gaffe as we have marched along our way of modernity. A lot is expected from the local individuals living in Sikkim. Goaded with the enherent wisdom we possess, the time has come for us to step into the arena and wrestle for achieving our desired goals because we all have the power to change and restore Sikkim back to its glory.

6.8 Richter scale not enough to awake sikkim.

HARKAY BARAH

HARKAY BARAH

HARKAY BARAH

HARKAY BARAH

HARKAY BARAH