Sikkim celebrates 208th Bhanu Jayanti

KUNAL RAI & IPR

CM announces State holiday on Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas
GANGTOK,: The State-level 208th Bhanu Jayanti celebration at Gangtok was a daylong affair with enthusiastic participation of civil society, social organisations, eminent literary figures, and invited dignitaries from different parts of the country and Nepal.
The celebration started with paying respects to Adikavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya at his life-size statue in Bhanu Udhyan here. Chief Minister P.S. Golay, the chief guest, formally inaugurated the re-developed Bhanu Udhyan.
An added attraction of the programme was the enthusiastic participation of an all-women troupe from Jhapa, Nepal who played the ‘Naumati Baja’.
After the programme at Bhanu Udhyan, the Chief Minister, dignitaries and invitees participated in the ‘Shova Yatra’ which began from Bhanu Udhyan, through the Zero Point - Tibet Road route and culminated at Titanic Park in M.G. Marg. The ‘Shova Yatra’ had cultural tableaus depicting the day’s theme, which was participated by students and members of various communities, associations and organizations.  
Manan Kendra was the venue for the second half of the celebration.
In his address to the gathering, the Chief Minister shared that Bhanu Jayanti is celebrated across Sikkim by all communities in their traditional attire. Our traditional attire needs to be cherished and worn with pride; we must protect and promote our literature, culture and language, he said.
The Chief Minister mentioned that a notification has been issued by the Education department for wearing traditional dresses once a month in the schools. “I had also sought suggestions from the intellectuals of our society on the idea of wearing traditional dresses at office once a week or a month. However, no suggestions have come so far and I appeal the intellectuals again today to discuss this idea and give their suggestions at the earliest. If there is acceptance, it will be implemented immediately,” he said.
Golay also remembered the contributions of former Chief Minister late N.B. Bhandari for the installation of the Adikavi’s statue at Bhanu Udhyan in Gangtok. He announced that Nepali Bhasa Manyata Diwas on August 20 will be a State holiday. He urged the Nepali Sahitya Parishad (NSP) Sikkim to hold an award ceremony of national level adding that the State government is ready to extend all support.
The Chief Minister also announced to extend necessary support to writers and poets who are not able to publish their literary works. He congratulated Nepali Sahitya Parishad Sikkim for organizing the programme in a befitting manner with active participation from all quarters. He also extended his greetings to all the invitees from other States and neighbouring countries. He congratulated all the awardees and the participants of the traditional and cultural events and tableau earlier in the day.
On the occasion, eminent litterateur K.N. Sharma was decorated with the prestigious ‘Bhanu Purashkar 2022 ’of the NSP Sikkim. Similarly, former MP Dil Kumari Bhandari was awarded the ‘Bhanu Purashkar’ for the year 2021.
The newly constituted Bhasa Gaurav awards were presented to Dorjee Rinchen Bhutia and O.T. Lepcha for their valuable services towards preservation and promotion of their respective languages and literature.
On the occasion, Padma Shri Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia was felicitated for his relentless service for over three decades towards thanka art, and for bringing laurels to the State.
Similarly, the ‘Seva Shri Samman’ from NSP was presented to Dr. Udai Chettri (language), Santosh Kumar Rai (literature), Dilli Prasad Adhikari (literature), Purna Subba (music), Rupa Tamang (theatre), Narad Adhikari (theatre), Kamal Mukhia (journalism), Deepa Rai (arts) and Komal Gurung (dance).
Earlier, the programme began with the welcome address by NSP Sikkim president Rudra Poudyal.