INDRAJATRA 2023 SIKKIM SPECIAL
Festival Most Awaited Unfolds
-0-
Background
It is worthwhile to recapitulate that Indrajatra was celebrated in the capital for the first time in 2010 (this Author was 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. It was during the tenure of the fourth President Rohit Kumar Pradhan* that the Indrajatra was recognised as a State Festival and declared as a Gazetted public holiday by the Government from the year 2012 onwards - a major achievement not only for the Newars in Sikkim but for all the Newars worldwide. It was hailed as the most significant milepost ever since the recognition of Newar language as one of the State languages - along with five others 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. Glancing through the list of Promoters it is, however, to record here as ridiculous to find everyone included – proverbial cheaper by the dozen - but no mention of the Pioneer (this Author with three others) who should have preceded them for it was them who blew the bugle to raise the fellow Newars from the slumber. A communiqué in the shape of the inland letter announced that the Newars should also have an apolitical social body of their own in the name and style of ‘Sikkim Newar Guthi’ to preserve, promote and practise their language, culture, rituals, traditions and heritage. Otherwise, though Sikkim was the 22nd State of India if they thought of some activity towards this goal, it was looked upon suspiciously as if some communal uprisings were around the corner!
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 2011 only - the first ever Indrajatra held overseas while the honour for holding it first outside mainland Nepal was Sikkim. What could be 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 world-wide.” 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 Organization of America Convention on 30th May. This year they are celebrating their 12th Indrajatra at the same venue Black Hill Regional Park, Boyds, Maryland on Saturday 7th October with Kumari Rath Yatra, Pulu Kisi, Lakhe, Live Cultural Dance and Traditional Samay Baji - entry, food and parking, as usual, is free this time too. Each year they have added a new feature from the rich Newar cultural heritage and this time it is the significant Khyak Dance about which most of us are not much in know and curious to look forward and welcome the star attraction par excellence, as expected from them all these years having given the best always.
With Chatha for the Newars worshipping Lord Ganesh started the festive season - Shivaji’s mother Jijabai started in his childhood, every household followed that turned out as Ganpati Mahotsav for Puneites/Maharashtrians by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak in 1893 now at National/community level - it would be worthwhile to offer to my readers a book on the subject close to my heart though much delayed more than being long-awaited. It was my story from the USA on the occasion of 25 years of Sikkim Newar Guthi shared in their Souvenir Smarika 2019. Realizing the lapse from the past, they brought out for the first time the List of the Pioneers but erroneously, smelt a rat. Anyway, the article shared made this Author to dwell upon further in an elaborate manner not only the journey of 25 years but of 40 years ever since we the Newars in Sikkim got up from the slumber in 1982. Though he himself faced the brunt all throughout but stood like the lone tree on the rock “to root deeper and deeper with no reason to fear the wind in all endeavours dedicated towards the Newah cause, be it language, culture, tradition, literature, heritage, or ethos as legacy to pass down further for the benefit of posterity.”
Celebrating Life Milepost #1 Jankwa Bhimratharohan at 77 years, which many take as its wrong side, it is the Final of the Trilogy - The Newars in Sikkim : A Perspective – Some Reflections ISBN 978-81-89602-17-8 in Format Demy ⅛ (5.5”x8.5”) Pages 288 (x+262+16) Pictures BW 36 Colour 10 has with an attractive cover depicting Lord Ganesh, Mount Kanchenjungha with a Lakhey from the first-ever performance by students of Institute of Newar Language and Culture at Namthang Kothi in 2000 on the front cover with inner flaps showing Synopsis and Our Publications and back cover with Opinions by Khagendra Mani Pradhan, former President Sikkim Newar Guthi and others; divided in Parts - Milestones enlist events chronological till August-end in 36 Pages besides A Perspective, Some Reflections, Supplement that includes Survey 2004, Inference – Crucible Tests spersed with life inspiration lines and lastly Index in 7 Pages for easy access the search you are interested in. It would not be the best from the Author as best is yet to come with the Silver Jubilee Third Enlarged Edition of the Newa: Varna, Lipi ra Bhasha Parichaya with Sahitya, Sanskriti and other useful matters like terms for Sex, Sexuality and Gender helpful added as the generations have matured since it first appeared in 1996 and in 2001 making 5,000 copies to leave an indelible mark in the society.
This book is slated for launch on World Tourism Day next week when in 2001 this Author presented his Vikasko Goreto: Grameen Proudyogiki _ Kam Dam Dher Gyanka Satheek Sujhauharu with CD Rom through the hands of the Governor of Sikkim, Kedar Nath Sawhney* during the national-level programme for the launch of project ‘Envis-Sikkim’ – the turning point of his life and so far 22 books in all these years matching the count.
Anecdote
Finally, it would be unfair on my part, if not shared an anecdote also included in My Story from the book mentioned above, “By the way, on 22nd August evening as we (me and Ranjana) were going out, happened to meet by chance Bikash Pradhan, known since long presently Culture Secretary of the Sikkim Newar Guthi just outside Rachna, whom we congratulate for the good works being done. He in return acknowledged Madam for her work Newa: Varna, Lipi ra Bhasha Parichaya. Dr. Sushen Pradhan, General Secretary comes in his car and we take a lift thanking him for meeting for the first time ever! He asks for an article for the forthcoming Smarika Indrajatra 2023 Sikkim Souvenir. Enquired him firstly tell if they rectified the List of Pioneers, which he affirmed having done so. Countered him, was it so published in the Smarika last year or have you intimated me in writing which I have not received so far; whereas my forthcoming book was all about. Last year, my ‘One to One Talk with Sikkim Newar Guthi’ on first meeting the new President of Sikkim Newar Guthi at Rhenock was put on hold though intended for their Smarika.” No grudges whatsoever in this golden age as it does not matter much.
Festival Unfolds
Sikkim Newar Guthi has announced the following line-up of the 8-day-long Indrajatra Celebrations to unfold from the 22nd onwards with venues and events that readers would be interested to know and plan the days ahead accordingly:
Newar Guthi Bhawan
Daily 9.00 am
22 Sthapana Puja, Lakhey Aaju, Nasa: Dya Puja
23 Vishwa Shanti Puja
24 Gurumandal Aacharan / Lingo-cutting Puja
25 Nitya Puja
26 Ashtamatrika / Lingo-raising Puja
27 Dagini Puja at Newar Guthi Bhawan
Inauguration of the Exhibition 2.00 pm and
Musical Cultural Event 3.00 pm at M. G. Marg
28 Kumari Puja 8.30 am at Bhanu Udyan
Grand Finale of All Competitions 10.00 am at Manan Bhawan
Bhanu Udyan
29 Nitya Puja 7.00 am
Kumari Rath Puja 8.00 am
Tika and Sagan 8.30 am
Kumari Rath Jatra 10.00 am
Manan Bhawan
29 Bhoj 1.00 pm
State-level Cultural and Felicitation Programme 2.00 pm
Grand Musical Night 6.00 pm
My warm greetings on this auspicious occasion and May we all be blessed by Kumari Mata and Ganedya for the grand success of the events this year too excelling all in the past and look forward to a healthy, happy, contended and prosperous year ahead!
---
Disclaimer: This is the Author’s personal account of memories to cherish and treasure, often on a detour here and there en route to share the joy of the journey called life. Some names (asterisk* for those no more), quotes, places and events mentioned are just to connect with and have no malice whatsoever. He can be reached at [email protected] and his books are available at www.rachnabooks.com