CM attends Tamu Lochar celebration

KUSH HANG LEEWANG/IPR
GEYZING: Chief Minister P.S. Tamang (Golay) attended the Gurung festival Tamu Lochar celebration at `Pelling, West Sikkim today. The celebration coincided with the silver jubilee year of All Sikkim Gurung (Tamu) Buddhist Association (ASGBA) at Pelling where the 10th Kanchanjunga Winter Tourism Festival is also underway.
Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba, PHE minister and area MLA Bhim Hang Subba, Power minister M.N. Sherpa, officials, ASGBA and Gurung community members, officials and others were present on the occasion.
Tamu Lochar or Tamu Losar, celebrated on December 30 every year is an important religious and cultural festival of Gurung community which marks Gurung New Year. Gurung community on the occasion of Tamu Lochar offer prayers to their deities for giving them a fruitful and successful year
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Golay maintained that each and every community of Sikkim has equal right to practice and preserve their cultural heritage trough community based programmes. He reiterated that the SKM government would ensure that community based programmes would not be politicalized and no political interference in such programmes would be entertained and tolerated. He added that the government would bring reformation in the system of government and reiterated to fulfil promises made to the people prior to the election. Golay also accused the erstwhile SDF government of dividing the Gurung community into two factions for political leverage. He added that according tribal status to Gurung community could have been possible if then State government had not suppressed and abolished the cultural practices of Gurung such as sheep grazing in the forested areas.
The Chief Minister further informed that the 'Gurung Bhawan' will be constructed after careful consideration with full support of the government. He also stressed on Gurung language to be introduced in the schools based upon the community census in areas of Sikkim and that Gurung language teachers would also be recruited so that future generations can learn their language.
On various demands placed by the Gurung community related to their culture and customs, Golay suggested that 'Rodhi Ghar' should be constructed at Gangtok considering its proximity to the State's administrative centres and appealed Gurung community to identify a suitable land for the project. He also informed that the government is keen to develop tourism in West Sikkim. He stated that Rangbang check post near Jorethang should be opened so that tourists interested to visit West Sikkim get an easy access.
Earlier, SBS chairman and chief patron of the organising committee D.B. Gurung informed that Tamu Lochar celebration was the part of religious and cultural practices followed by Gurung community since ancient times. He maintained that Gurung community like other communities of the State understand the necessity to protect and preserve their cultural heritage for safeguarding their distinct cultural and social identity. He also requested the State government to let the Gurung community to follow their age old customs of sheep grazing in the forested areas of the State that has been abolished by the former SDF government.
The programme had felicitations of various personalities including former Chief Minister B.B. Gooroong and Mohan Gurung, Sarad Kumar Gurung, Sneha Lata Gurung, Narendra Bikram Gurung, Navin Gurung. Similarly, certificate of inspirations to young talents were also given to Roshnila Gurung, Joy Gurung, Devika Gurung, Pranisha Gurung. 
The Pelling Tourism Development Association also felicitated Pelling senior secondary school principal N.K. Karki, Topzor Bhutia and Nirmal Rai.