INDRAJATRA 2015 NEWAH ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA
Indrajatra 2022 Sikkim
A Curtain Raiser
Rajiva Shanker Shresta
In its 22nd Year since we the Newars in Sikkim had the first ever taste of the joy and fervour what Indrajatra brings us each year to rejoice and celebrate united in solidarity here at Gangtok. On the auspicious day 9th of September this year again, all roads lead to the Manan Bhavan, the hub of culture and festivals to witness Indrajatra Finale in all its grandeur after waiting eagerly the whole year. What would be in the bag to display the best way possible?! An elaborate line up of ambitious programmes has already been drawn and announced for the this year's 8-Day long eventful celebrations to unfold!
Background
It was my sheer delight to witness and be part of the historic First Indrajatra Sikkim held on 12th September 2000 in the heritage Namthang Kothi premises with the Chief Minister of Sikkim invited to grace the occasion and join in offering prayers as well as inaugurate the Institute of Newar Language and Culture there with Durga Kasaju as the Principal. Owner and her spouse Dharma Pratap Kasaju had performed the puja and rituals in the morning. The first batch of students undergoing training there had the maiden appearance previously at Rhenock during the Sahasra Chandra Darshanam / Maharatharohan or Janwa as known in common parlance (see photos no. 2, 3, 4 and 5). It was on the occasion of sighting of a thousand moons attaining an age of 83 years 4 days 4 hours and 4 minutes by my Buba Jai Shanker Lall Shresta*. More of a revival of the forgotten rich tradition of honouring our elderly parents made possible not only by the family members but by the active participation of our guests from Gangtok, Kalimpong, Darjeeling as well as Nepal - read Kathmandu, which we the Newars still familiarly use the country's name for the capital city since the days of yore – besides a large number of wellwishers, students and all here. This three-day long celebrations from May 30 was held under the auspices of the Karuna Devi Smarak Dharmarth Guthi in association with Rhenock Newar Guthi with Sunder Kumar Pradhan as the President and R. K. Pradhan* as its General Secretary and Sikkim Newar Guthi headed by its third President Khagendra Mani Pradhan, the man behind Indrajatra. This had greatly helped in melting away whatever feelings the later two-named had here. A Letter of Appreciation was sent from us to the President for organizing Indrajatra at a state level in such a grand manner!
This Author had the rare opportunity to be part of the Indrajatra Sikkim in 2011 when the Sikkim Newar Guthi had invited the well-acclaimed writer in Nepali as well as Newar Bhasha Laxman Rajbanshi* with his Bakhan Daboo team (last photo no. 6) comprising of eminent writers like Raja Shakya, Prof. Namadeshwar Pradhan, Shashikala Manandhar, Dr. Sarvottam Shrestha and many others known to him. Earlier, on New Year's Day, we had our Newah Bhaye Learner with CD written by Daya Shakya launched by the Newah Icon Padma Ratna Tuladhar* in presence of Laxman Rajbanshi and a host of litterateurs during the Shankhadhar Sirpa handing over function invited by Ganesh Ram Lachhi, who needs no introduction in Sikkim. Our website www.newarsinsikkim.com was also launched there – now it is a page Facebook/Newars in Sikkim. Many know that Indrajatra was celebrated in the capital for the first time in 2010 (this Author away in the USA) when the Sikkim Newar Guthi was brought back to the State capital, a Newar bastion and a melting pot of all the communities contributing their best to uphold and raise the glory of Sikkim as the jewel in the crown of the Mother India with the Guardian Deity Mount Kanchenjungha, the highest peak in the country.
A line in fond memory and deep appreciation of the fourth President Rohit Kumar Pradhan* during whose tenure Indrajatra was recognised as a State Festival and declared a Gazetted public holiday by the Government from the year 2012 onwards. It was a major achievement not only for the Newars in Sikkim but for the all the Newars worldwide. Hailed as the most significant milepost since the recognition of Newar language along with five others as one of the State languages at par with English, Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia and Limbu in 1995. This honour of securing landmark approval - after the registration of the Sikkim Newar Guthi as a non-political social organisation the previous year after 12 years of its being proclaimed by this Author on May 27, 1982 - goes to the Founder President Mohan Pratap Pradhan* and General Secretary Keshab Chandra Pradhan, both former Chief Secretary to the Government of Sikkim.
The Author had the rare opportunity to be invited to the Indrajatra / Yen Ya celebrations organized by the Newah Organization of America (NOA) in 2015 being held on September 27. They had introduced it there in 2013 only - the first ever Indrajatra held overseas while the honour for holding it first outside mainland Nepal was Sikkim. What could be a better than this to felicitate them with the Jai Smarak Samman under the aegis of our Karuna Guthi “in recognition of their exemplary outstanding works of excellence dedicated towards promotion, preservation and protection of the Newah Culture, Language, Heritage , Customs and Traditions worth emulating by the Newars worldwide.” It was in 2010 that they had invited this Author even before he had left the shore for his first visit to America, to attend and deliver a talk on the Newars in Sikkim during their 9th Newah Organiztion of America Convention on 30th May. This year they are celebrating their 10th Indrajatra at the same venue Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, Maryland on Saturday 17th September with Kumari Rath Yatra, Pulu Kisi, Lakhe, Live Cultural Dance and Traditional Samay Baji - entry, food and parking, as usua,l is free this time too.
Continued ...Anecdotes - Present scenario - Conclusion
Background
It was my sheer delight to witness and be part of the historic First Indrajatra Sikkim held on 12th September 2000 in the heritage Namthang Kothi premises with the Chief Minister of Sikkim invited to grace the occasion and join in offering prayers as well as inaugurate the Institute of Newar Language and Culture there with Durga Kasaju as the Principal. Owner and her spouse Dharma Pratap Kasaju had performed the puja and rituals in the morning. The first batch of students undergoing training there had the maiden appearance previously at Rhenock during the Sahasra Chandra Darshanam / Maharatharohan or Janwa as known in common parlance (see photos no. 2, 3, 4 and 5). It was on the occasion of sighting of a thousand moons attaining an age of 83 years 4 days 4 hours and 4 minutes by my Buba Jai Shanker Lall Shresta*. More of a revival of the forgotten rich tradition of honouring our elderly parents made possible not only by the family members but by the active participation of our guests from Gangtok, Kalimpong, Darjeeling as well as Nepal - read Kathmandu, which we the Newars still familiarly use the country's name for the capital city since the days of yore – besides a large number of wellwishers, students and all here. This three-day long celebrations from May 30 was held under the auspices of the Karuna Devi Smarak Dharmarth Guthi in association with Rhenock Newar Guthi with Sunder Kumar Pradhan as the President and R. K. Pradhan* as its General Secretary and Sikkim Newar Guthi headed by its third President Khagendra Mani Pradhan, the man behind Indrajatra. This had greatly helped in melting away whatever feelings the later two-named had here. A Letter of Appreciation was sent from us to the President for organizing Indrajatra at a state level in such a grand manner!
This Author had the rare opportunity to be part of the Indrajatra Sikkim in 2011 when the Sikkim Newar Guthi had invited the well-acclaimed writer in Nepali as well as Newar Bhasha Laxman Rajbanshi* with his Bakhan Daboo team (last photo no. 6) comprising of eminent writers like Raja Shakya, Prof. Namadeshwar Pradhan, Shashikala Manandhar, Dr. Sarvottam Shrestha and many others known to him. Earlier, on New Year's Day, we had our Newah Bhaye Learner with CD written by Daya Shakya launched by the Newah Icon Padma Ratna Tuladhar* in presence of Laxman Rajbanshi and a host of litterateurs during the Shankhadhar Sirpa handing over function invited by Ganesh Ram Lachhi, who needs no introduction in Sikkim. Our website www.newarsinsikkim.com was also launched there – now it is a page Facebook/Newars in Sikkim. Many know that Indrajatra was celebrated in the capital for the first time in 2010 (this Author away in the USA) when the Sikkim Newar Guthi was brought back to the State capital, a Newar bastion and a melting pot of all the communities contributing their best to uphold and raise the glory of Sikkim as the jewel in the crown of the Mother India with the Guardian Deity Mount Kanchenjungha, the highest peak in the country.
A line in fond memory and deep appreciation of the fourth President Rohit Kumar Pradhan* during whose tenure Indrajatra was recognised as a State Festival and declared a Gazetted public holiday by the Government from the year 2012 onwards. It was a major achievement not only for the Newars in Sikkim but for the all the Newars worldwide. Hailed as the most significant milepost since the recognition of Newar language along with five others as one of the State languages at par with English, Nepali, Lepcha, Bhutia and Limbu in 1995. This honour of securing landmark approval - after the registration of the Sikkim Newar Guthi as a non-political social organisation the previous year after 12 years of its being proclaimed by this Author on May 27, 1982 - goes to the Founder President Mohan Pratap Pradhan* and General Secretary Keshab Chandra Pradhan, both former Chief Secretary to the Government of Sikkim.
The Author had the rare opportunity to be invited to the Indrajatra / Yen Ya celebrations organized by the Newah Organization of America (NOA) in 2015 being held on September 27. They had introduced it there in 2013 only - the first ever Indrajatra held overseas while the honour for holding it first outside mainland Nepal was Sikkim. What could be a better than this to felicitate them with the Jai Smarak Samman under the aegis of our Karuna Guthi “in recognition of their exemplary outstanding works of excellence dedicated towards promotion, preservation and protection of the Newah Culture, Language, Heritage , Customs and Traditions worth emulating by the Newars worldwide.” It was in 2010 that they had invited this Author even before he had left the shore for his first visit to America, to attend and deliver a talk on the Newars in Sikkim during their 9th Newah Organiztion of America Convention on 30th May. This year they are celebrating their 10th Indrajatra at the same venue Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, Maryland on Saturday 17th September with Kumari Rath Yatra, Pulu Kisi, Lakhe, Live Cultural Dance and Traditional Samay Baji - entry, food and parking, as usua,l is free this time too.
Continued ...Anecdotes - Present scenario - Conclusion
RSS Feed
