Symposium explores ancient spiritual traditions of Lepcha Mun and Bongthing

KUNAL RAI

GANGTOK, : The Department of Culture, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with Renjyong Mutanchi Ringmom Kurmom (RMRK), organised a daylong symposium titled ‘Lepcha Mun and Bongthing: Tracing Their Ancient Spiritual Routes’ as part of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration 2025. The event was held on Tuesday at the RMRK conference hall in Development Area, Gangtok.

The symposium was graced by Forest minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha as the chief guest. Other dignitaries in attendance included RMRK president OT Lepcha, Chief Minister’s advisor Kunga Nima Lepcha, RMRT president Chewang Norbu Lepcha, Culture secretary BK Lama, and SLYA president OT Lepcha, among others.

Speaking to the media, RMRK president OT Lepcha emphasized that the spiritual and cultural life of the Lepcha community has, for centuries, revolved around the traditional practices of Mun and Bongthing-the revered Lepcha spiritual healers and priests. These figures have been vital custodians of rituals, oral traditions, healing practices, and indigenous ecological knowledge. Central to their role is the maintenance of harmony between people, nature, and the spiritual world.

However, OT Lepcha also expressed concern about the declining number of active Mun and Bongthing practitioners in recent decades. He attributed this trend to modernization, urbanization, and the influence of contemporary education, which have shifted community perspectives away from traditional beliefs. Despite these changes, he asserted that the significance and wisdom of Mun and Bongthing traditions remain deeply relevant.

Rooted in nature and spirituality, the Lepcha belief system sees the divine in natural elements such as rivers, mountains, trees, rocks, and storms. The Mun and Bongthing act as intermediaries who maintain sacred relationships with these forces, ensuring balance and wellbeing in the community.

The symposium, jointly organized by the Culture department and the Tendong Lho Rum Faat Celebration Committee 2025, aimed to explore the spiritual, ecological, and cultural roles of these practitioners - not merely as religious leaders but as environmental custodians, healers, and cultural historians.

Historically, no Lepcha ritual - whether related to birth, marriage, harvest, or ancestral remembrance - was considered complete without the presence of a Mun or Bongthing. They possess deep knowledge of herbal medicine, spiritual cleansing, and traditional conflict resolution methods, all of which continue to hold relevance today.

The symposium served multiple purposes including revisiting the heritage and spiritual roles of Mun and Bongthing; to create awareness among younger generations; to promote cultural pride and intergenerational dialogue; and to encourage research, documentation, and preservation of oral traditions and ecological knowledge.

The event also included participation from practicing Mun and Bongthings from across the State, alongside civil society representatives and officials from the Culture department.

Organisers shared that under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay), the traditional faith healers of all the communities of Sikkim are being preserved and promoted to establish recognition and documentation of the vast knowledge they hold.

As part of this initiative, symposiums like this are being organised to document and celebrate the knowledge these practitioners possess. Identity cards and certificates were also distributed as a gesture of recognition and appreciation.

The symposium was a key highlight of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat 2025 celebrations, which include a series of programs such as knowledge-sharing sessions, cultural competitions, and other activities designed to celebrate and preserve Lepcha heritage.