sikkim:Baisakhi Parva celebrated

PRAKASH CHETTRI

Namchi: With a traditional Shova Yatra and a number of colourful cultural events the New Year 2067, as per the Nepali Lunar Calendar the Baisakhi Parva, and Dr. Ambedkar Jayanti was celebrated at Jorethang Nayabazaar in West Sikkim in a grand manner. Two days’ celebration programme was held at the meeting point of River Rangeet and Ramam. Dr. Rajendra Bhandari, Lecturer Nepali Department, Sikkim Government College Tadong, was chief guest of the programme which was attended by a number of literary figures from Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong along with the government officials from Jorethang and its surroundings.

The main attraction of Wednesday’s celebration was the Hasya Kavi Gosti. The poets from Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Dooars recited their poems on different topics. Among the present poets were KN Sharma from Gangtok, Yuvaraj Ghaley Bhai from Gangtok, Arun Prakash Rai from Kalimpong, Sunil Rai Pranami from Darjeeling, Bhupendra Subba of Darjeeling, Begbasanta Thapa of Dooars, Sitaram Kafley from Kalimpong, Moti Psd. Sharma of Kalimpong, Tika Bhai of Darjeeling, Raja Puniyani of Siliguri and Dr. Rajendra Bhandari from Gangtok. Earlier the celebration began with a big shova yatra which started from the main venue and covering Jorethang Bazaar finally ended at the same venue. Later a programme was organized at the river bank to mark the occasion where the artists from different parts of Sikkim and Darjeeling presented colourful cultural items.

A unique part of the celebration was felicitation of the aged people of the locality which was initiated with the vision of area MLA Madan Cintury who is also the chief patron of the organizing committee. In this programme the committee on the day felicitated one 95 years old lady with a shawl, felicitation letter, clothes and cash incentives. The best performing student of the locality was also honoured on the occasion with cash prize and a certificate which was won by onr student of St. Francis School, Jorethang.

Earlier the President of the committee Kamal Chettri in his welcome address highlighted the importance of Baisahi Parva amongst us while Dhurba Lohagon presented a brief history of the life of Dr. BR Ambedkar.

SOURCE;SIKKIM REPORTER