Speech by H.E. Shri Balmiki Prasad Singh, Governor of Sikkim on the occasion of Pang Lhabsol

24 August 2010, MG Marg, Gangtok | IPR News Service

I am very happy to be here today to be a part of the famous Pang Lhabsol festival.

Pang Lhabsol ceremony is unique and is a living part of Sikkim’s history, society and culture. It is held to pay homage to Mt. Khangchendzonga, the guardian deity of Sikkim, and signifies the common thread of harmony among different ethnic groups.

The festival owes its origins to a social compact between the Lepcha tribes led by their chieftain Thekong Thek and Bhutia tribes under the guardianship of Khye Bumsa. The festival commenced with the swearing of the oath of blood brotherhood between Lepchas and Bhutias at Kabi Lungchok in north Sikkim.

This was in many ways a secular event dominated by animistic rituals of the Lepchas and the Buddhistic rituals of the Bhutias of that time. This was also characterized by uncommon method of forging alliances by invoking the mountain deity to be the witness and also at the same time invoking prayers that Mt. Khangchendzonga would take care of the well-being of the people of Sikkim.

Pang Lhabsol took place well before the establishment of monarchy in Sikkim. The establishment of the Chogyal rule which commenced in 1642 in many ways too was based on spirit of unity and brotherhood that marks the Pang Lhabsol festival.

Under the imaginative leadership of 4th Chogyal, Chagdor Namgyal, the festival was linked to many mask dances. He choreographed several of Pangtoed Chaams or the warrior dance and encouraged his soldiers as a part of their training to play the drills along with people.

Pang Lhabsol has come to symbolize the unity and brotherhood of all major communities of Sikkim, viz Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepalis as well as others.

Over the years, the festival which was only celebrated at select places including Palace ground of the Chogyal has moved on to villages, towns and the market places. This is now being celebrated jointly by Lepchas, Bhutias, Nepalis and people of different ethnic groups living or visiting Sikkim.

Though times have changed and with it the venues, the essence of the celebration remains the same i.e. harmonious existence between different communities and between Man and Nature.

Today, the Pang-Lhabsol festival has greater significance. The message of brotherhood, peace and prosperity that it embodies must echo across these mountains, hills and valleys to the neighbouring regions and across the world to resolve conflicts and to create a world of harmony.

These days we see and hear more and more news of nature’s destructive powers obliterating settlements, wiping out homes and crops and killing many, leaving thousands devastated. Maybe time has come for us to respect nature and bestow its rightful place in order to maintain the ecological balance just as we revere and respect nature in Sikkim through the worship of Mt. Khangchendzonga.

While we know the place where Pang Lhabsol event took place, we are still unaware of the month and year of its occurrence. I take this opportunity to call upon the State Government to constitute a group of scholars with special knowledge of history and culture of Sikkim to sit together and to give us at least the year in which this significant meeting took place. I expect this to be done within a stipulated time-frame.

I convey my greetings and good wishes to the people of Sikkim on this auspicious occasion.