Indrajatra 2022 Sikkim
A Curtain Raiser
Rajiva Shanker Shresta
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
It would be worthwhile to share here an anecdote dating back to those nascent days of the Sikkim Newar Guthi in late 1990s. Our Living Legend Keshab Chandra Pradhan told this scribe once that of the two persons in his opinion to watch in future to excel in life, Rohit was the one. Curious enough enquired him who was the other one so recognised - it was none other than this person, Author, himself. A similar view was that of my Nirmal Mama of the Chandra Orchids and Bulbs Nurseries at 8th Mile Kalimpong where Cluny's Women's College is presently located. Almost frustrated unemployed in Sikkim as well as Nepal even having a Master's Degree of 1969 returning home to appear in the first ever Civil Services Competitive Examination was being held in March 1971. He too mentioned two persons whom he saw to be brilliantly successful in life. For him, one was his brother-in-law Ramesh Sharma and the other you have guessed it right, this Author again. What a coincidence, Keshab Mama as Tourism Secretary commissioned him to write pictorial coffee table book Images of Sikkim that opened his doors wide not only at the national level but at the international level as well, unless proved otherwise. For this nephew, he advised going for untrodden path for the Newars in Sikkim leaving the state affairs solely to the Sikkim Newar Guthi since enough had already been done by him back home. With such expectations from our seniors let known at right time, it was but natural to be so much inspired, well motivated and profusely encouraged as to stride for what all he achieved so far, in spite of all the odds in his life! Aptly said, Hum nahin hain woh boot jo inton se toot jaye, inhi inton ko jama kar mahal bana lete hain hum. Meaning “We are not that idol to be shattered by the bricks thrown at but to collect all and raise a monument out of them.”
Continued ... Present scenario
Back in Sikkim, this year the Sikkim Newar Guthi with fresh blood infused and its well-motivated energetic Team 2021 of a younger generation taking over the mantle - some of whom have already proved their mettle during the Silver Jubilee Celebrations in 2019 and year before, if not wrong. They have all well steered ahead with recent grand display of its capabilities to win everyone's heart with ritual dances during the Centenary Birthday Celebrations of the Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal applauded by the present Chogyal himself as the President revealed to this Author during our One-to-One Talk recently at Rhenock and with Dhimay and Jhyamta beats subduing the rest there and later to fetch the Second Prize in the State level Bhanu Jayanti Bhashik Ekta ani Jaatiya Sadabhavna Shobha Jatra at Gangtok.
In a communique dated 15th August 2022 the General Secretary of Sikkim Newar Guthi has requested all its Sakha Presidents to participate in the biggest festival of the Newar community from 2nd to 9th September being held with pomp and glory, when large number of Newars from all over the State and outside are expected to gather on the auspicious event at the State Capital. It also mentions of Puja and rituals being carried out entire eight days; a number of competitions, exhibitions and Cultural programmes scheduled on 7th and 8th September; while the final day event on 9th with Puja and Rathjatra (chariot procession) from Bhanu Udhyan through MG Marg culminating at Manan Bhavan to host cultural programmes, award distributions, felicitations and a Grand Musical Gala Nite. It also requests them for active participation in all the activities of Indrajatra 2022 organising cultural competitions at Sakha level on 20th and 21st August and encouraging its members to participate in all the activities to make the Celebrations a grand success.
The success reaching distinct milestones so far could be attributed to the loyalty we the Newars have owing allegiance to the Constituion and authority whosoever in power, wherever they have settled and served earning a livelihood in their own or in a foreign land. Sikkim Newar Guthi have performed well in the past and the present affable President with a dedicated Team 2021 have also started off well what we see in the first eight months of their tenure. They have been keeping in touch not only with the fellow Newars in Sikkim but also with the premier organisations in the mainland Nepal, like Newah Dey Daboo, Lipi Guthi, Dabuli etc. for the mutual support in promotion of the language, culture rituals and traditions. The Guthi has revitalised National Institute of Language and Culture and started with One-Year Course at the Newar Bhavan at Sichey. The uniform prescribed in the auspicious Newar colours of black and red in Haku Patasi/Sari to catch attention worldwide. With camaraderie, they have also earnestly reorganised their Shakha or branches vamped up in places of Newar settlements in Sikkim. This they have done well ahead of the great festival to ensure, without leaving any chances for a brilliant show this year too like in the past, each year excelling its own past performance. The Sikkim Newar Guthi now only needs everyone's support, not only from the Government and fellow Newars serving the Government since they have a lot on their agenda for the coming years as well. What could be more opportune time than the festive season that begins with the Indrajatra to come forward and join them in unison for the noble cause?
Continued ... Conclusion
It could, as such, safely be conluded that the future of the Newar language, culture and traditions as well as heritage is in safe hands herein Sikkim. Further, this Author is confident enough that the day is not very far off when Indrajatra would be the State Festival to reckon with and featuring as a Festival for Tourism as the Incredible India, the way Paragliding made it there (see photo no. 1). Many not know that it was this Author at an age of 59 - when most of the employees gets retired from the Government service – was paragliding in the Solang Valley, Manali with his wife and daughter beside the Joint Director. Video recording was brought home to show to the aspiring youth that helped deciding them for Paragliding as a career to pursue in adventure sports that our mountanous Sikkim is richly endowed with. The year was 2006 and our present Chief Minister P. S. Golay was the Minister-in-Charge of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, who instantly liked my proposal to introduce Paragliding in Sikkim as a career option. Otherwise, Paragliding would have continued only as a fun clapping hands and watching Paragliders from Himachal Pradesh flying off from a hilltop nearby to land on Jorethang ground during Maghey Mela each year. Rest is history!
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About the Author
“Rajiva Shanker Shresta, a retired ace bureaucrat, is a prolific writer-cum-walking encyclopaedia as far as Sikkim is concerned. His monumental book 'Sikkim : Three Decades towards Democracy – Evolution of Legislative System' (2005) is much referred book....” Keshab Chandra Pradhan, Former Chief Secretary to the Government of Sikkim in his Memoir The Life and Times of A Plantsman in the Sikkim Himalayas (Revised/Updated 2018)