Recently lots of people sent ecards from Sikkim Online. It was really nice to know how much people liked our ecards and cared enough to send them to their beloved ones. Thanks to our devoted members for sharing such nice photos at Sikkim Online Photo Gallery. Here’s the current stat.

Gurudongmar Lake (© saran)  - Sent 1221 times.

White water rafting - Teesta (© sam_sikkim) - Sent 805 times.

Panaromic View Of Pelling (West Sikkim) (© sam_sikkim) - Sent 723 times.

Monks (© amir_sereng) - Sent 622 times.

Mt. Kanchandzonga (© saran) - Sent 612 times.

Traveling in a sleeper class compartment is never boring. It is really like a gathering of tribes. Introductions are frequent and bonds are formed, even if for temporarily. Sometimes addresses are exchanged, photographs taken for memories and the whole journey becomes an extension of our very own private lives. And when the train stops at the last station and the goodbyes and good wishes are exchanged and you suddenly find yourself among the coolies, the touts and the taxis, the journey would have already etched a fine memory in your mind which you shall recall at some point in your future as you do your routine, mundane chores in your life like reading a newspaper in the toilet, or watching some boring news on sitcom or having those familiar conversations with familiar people whom you see everyday in your life.
I looked outside the window to witness the day, the trees, vast rice fields which some economists around the world argued were the future of the country and all things stable, pass by in rapid motion. And suddenly amongst the now constant hum of the chattering of passengers there, resonated a loud but very melodious female voice. It was the voice which enraptured the listening ears. I looked around the compartment to check the speakers but was pleasantly surprised to see two women clad in colorful saris make their way in, dramatically from the aisle of the coach.  The chatter inside the compartment came to an abrupt halt and as if by the power of music, everyone inside, for once, had ears. One woman had a microphone in her right hand, the other hand held the cord. The second woman had a small cubical amplifier on one hand and the other hand stretched out for alms. The singer sang on an uninterrupted note, voice flowing, melodious and confident.

Dazzling lights excitement and joy everywhere. Local musical groups performaing door to door, Deusai bhais singing “Aahai, bhana bhana bhai ho”,  drinkers going way too outrageous. This Tihar fianlly comes to an end, leaving us all filled with emptyness.

Dashain, the time of happiness, joy and blessings. Just the pronunciation of the word ‘Dashain’ is a mesmerizer, a complete package of radiance and memories of the past years. It is like eid to a Muslim and Xmas to a Christian.

For me, this year’s Dashain was completely different, filled with excitement and joy. We went to visit different places in Darjeeling, Kalimpong and in Sikkim. People rushing around with their kids to meet elders, loud music playing in every shop, drunkers hitting the jackpot on the road sides, it was entirely quite a sight.

Darjeeling and Kalimpong had a different sight, people wearing “Daura Sural”, and ladies wearing “Chaubandi and fariya”. In these hills, people are obliged to wear traditional gurkhali dress for some political reasons. But backin Gangtok, it was quiet, unlike usual days few people roaming around, this hustle center seemed to embarace rathar unusual stillness.  I wonder where do people go in Dasain?

Local legend associated with the annual dance of Tendong Lho Rum Faat Fastival.

“Teesta (female) and Rangit (male) were born at the sacred lap of the Himalayan Mountains. They grew up together happily and as they became adults, secretly they began to love each other. But their secret story didn’t last forever, people got to know about this and started talking things about them.  So they decided to leave the place, to go some somewhere they could be together forever. This place was no where but the valley where hill meets the plains, Lepchas called it “Pazook” which means place covered with dense forest (Now near Teesta bazaar).

Both didn’t know the path to “Pazook”, so the Rongnu (Teesta) took Parli-Bu the snake as her guide, and Rungit went with Tut-Fu (Danfey) the bird. It was like a little race, who will reach first.  Snake with agile body reached Pazaok in time, but Tut-fo (Danphey) had taken a longer road thought the rocky and difficult terrain. Being hungry he stopped on the way to collect insects for his food. On the other hand Teesta was waiting for her love to arrive.  When Rungit finally arrived, he was so ashamed to be defeated by a female even though fault was not his. So he decided to go back to his usual home back in Himalayas. As he started returning the water of the river began to rise up, swallowing the valley and the hill. All the people living in the valley gathered up to the Meanom and Tendong hill to save themselves from the deluge,  the water was still out of reach in these hills. Read the rest of this entry »