SIBLAC criticises Sikkim govt for distorting religious ethos

Gangtok, Jul 24 (UNI) The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) today strongly criticised the state government for what it said distortion of traditional religious ethos and demanded steps for its restoration.

SIBLAC Convener Tseten Bhutia in a statement here said the state government in its publication Sikkim Study Series (Culture, Part-1, Volume-III) had wrongly mentioned that Pang -Lhabsol, a Buddhist festival is observed on September 2, every year.

However, Mr Bhutia said Pang Lhabsol ceremony is observed all over the state from 8th to 15th day of the seventh month of the Sikkimese lunar calendar- corresponding to the month of late August or early September in reverence to Khangchen-Dzonga, the presiding deity and other deities of the state.

Mr Bhutia condemned the motive of the people associated with the publication and wanted the authorities to rectify the error.

SIBLAC also wanted the authorities not to insinuate the ceremony to any other form like '' Ekta Divas or Day of brotherhood'' departing from tradition.

Mr Bhutia said, SIBLAC also demanded the government to ensure that the traditional annual Saga-Dawa-Cho-Kor procession takes places on its traditional route from the coming year.

The procession is taken out every year with the holy scriptures to enable the common people to have a darshan of the holy scriptures and to remind them of the noble words of Buddha Sakyamuni on peace and non-violence.

The route of the procession, which was taken out on the streets of Gangtok bazar since time immemorial till last year, was changed for the first time this year.

Mr Bhutia said traditional ethos and values were never compromised in the name of development and cited the example of world famous car festival of Puri and the Ganesh Utsav rallies of Mumbai in this connection.

He urged the government not to disturb the tradition and allow the procession to continue on its traditional route from the coming year.

UNI BD KK/src1035