Tendong Lho Rum Faat festivities to start from Aug 3

GANGTOK,: Tendong Lho Rum Faat, a deeply revered festival of the indigenous Lepcha community, is set to be celebrated with great fervour and cultural pride at the State level from August 3 to 8.

The celebration committee on Sunday shared an elaborate six-day itinerary featuring knowledge sessions, a symposium for traditional Lepcha priests (Bongthings), literary competitions, cultural competitions, and the grand celebration on August 8 at Manan Kendra in Gangtok, where Chief Minister PS Golay is scheduled to attend

Minister Pintso Namgyal Lepcha, also the celebration committee president, informed that the Tendong Lho Rum Faat festival celebration will commence with ‘Tendong Knowledge Series’ on August 3.

He was joined by minister NB Dahal, also the celebration committee chairman at the press meet along with former MP OT Lepcha, Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association president Ongden T Lepcha, and RMRT president Chewang Norbu Lepcha.

On August 5, the committee is holding a one-day symposium at Gangtok for the Bongthings (traditional Lepcha priests) as part of the Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebration. The Lepcha community’s faith healers would be categorized and provided with certificates and identity cards by the Culture department at the event.

Around 71 Bongthings are attending this familiarization symposium where they would be categorized according to the traditional practices and rituals they perform for the Lepcha community. There are seven prominent rituals and practices – from birth to chasing away evil spirits - associated with Bongthings, and accordingly each Bongthing would be classified depending on which ritual he performs.

Presenting them with an official identity card and certification would also help the Bongthings to avoid inconveniences and misunderstanding when they travel with their traditional and sacred items, it was informed.

On August 6, the committee is holding the annual traditional puja at Tendong hill in South Sikkim where the Lepcha community offer their prayers to Mount Tendong. The next day is reserved for literary events and cultural competitions between selected groups from the six districts.

The main Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebration falls on August 8. Chief Minister PS Golay would be attending the main programme at Manan Kendra and bless the gathering, informed minister Lepcha.

At the main event, there would be prayers by Bongthings, cultural presentations, and felicitations to achievers of the Lepcha community.

The organisers have requested members from other communities of Sikkim to join the Tendong Lho Rum Faat celebrations on August 8 at Manan Kendra.