MAKHA, April 20: Ever had an opportunity to savor 84 food items, most of which are from the ‘wild’? Sounds interesting and true. With nature’s bounty, only Sikkim can offer a rich amalgamation traditional cuisines and cultural accord – rare to the world downhill.
Organised in collaboration of Rakdong-Tintek and Samdong constituency, three days long ‘Worship of Mother Earth & Sikkim’s Traditional & Wild Foods Tourism Festival’ started today at Makha, East Sikkim as a homage to mother nature in communion with traditional values of the indigenous masses.
Calling for individual initiatives from everyone to reflect their cultural splendour before the world, the chief guest Minister for Roads & Bridges and MLA Sang Martam, DT Lepcha inaugurating the festival today said, “Presentation of our cultural uniqueness should not only be restricted to certain special days of the year, rather accepted and held up at all opportunities”.
Addressing a mass gathering, Lepcha invited a paradigm shift in the mindset of educated youth and their parents in looking into the aspects of self employment and several schemes of the state government being steered to solve the increasing unemployment menace. He also insisted for a competitive mentality among the students and youth which the latter should accept for good endeavours.
Amid an apparent apolitical discourse, the chief guest however adjudged that peace and tranquility in the state is a boon of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party’s good governance, adding that each citizen needs to think of his contribution towards the society and the country at large in making the nation ‘best’ in the world.
Earlier placing his welcome, area MLA Norzong Lepcha appealed the assemblage to explore the rich natural bounty in reconstructing the state’s economy towards greater prosperity. Condemning the ever increasing craze for junk foods and cold drinks etc, Norzong Lepcha offered all attentions to nature fresh indigenous food items of Sikkim that, according to him, are nutritious and of medicinal values.
Speaking to Sikkim Express today, area MLA Norzong Lepcha clarified the name and uniqueness of the festival as several of the 84 food items on offer, including known and unknown dishes, are found only in the wild and are never cultivated or produced commercially. “Sikkim is rich in wild and unique traditional foods. Every thing is given to us by nature. With such unique festival, we not only seek to motivate the Sikkimese people, but also let the world know, its time to get back to nature before it is too late”, he added.
The inauguration of the festival today came accompanied by traditional Sangini dance, Lepcha dance, Gurung dance etc. Among the several stalls, crowd puller of the day however was the three cottages of indigenous communities displaying their aboriginal crockery utensils, drinks and food items.
The three days festival is also scheduled to come with vivid cultural shows, highlights on traditional attires, musical nights with artists from Darjeeling, Kolkata, Kathmandu etc. With Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma famed Partho Bhattacharya from Kolkata, Makha is also scheduled to host laughter maestro Prakash Chettri of Siliguri.
The day was also attended by MLA Gangtok NK Pradhan, MLA Ranka Ms Nimthit Lepcha, former & new General Manager to NHPC BK Sharma and SK Mittal and other dignitaries.
Organised in collaboration of Rakdong-Tintek and Samdong constituency, three days long ‘Worship of Mother Earth & Sikkim’s Traditional & Wild Foods Tourism Festival’ started today at Makha, East Sikkim as a homage to mother nature in communion with traditional values of the indigenous masses.
Calling for individual initiatives from everyone to reflect their cultural splendour before the world, the chief guest Minister for Roads & Bridges and MLA Sang Martam, DT Lepcha inaugurating the festival today said, “Presentation of our cultural uniqueness should not only be restricted to certain special days of the year, rather accepted and held up at all opportunities”.
Addressing a mass gathering, Lepcha invited a paradigm shift in the mindset of educated youth and their parents in looking into the aspects of self employment and several schemes of the state government being steered to solve the increasing unemployment menace. He also insisted for a competitive mentality among the students and youth which the latter should accept for good endeavours.
Amid an apparent apolitical discourse, the chief guest however adjudged that peace and tranquility in the state is a boon of Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party’s good governance, adding that each citizen needs to think of his contribution towards the society and the country at large in making the nation ‘best’ in the world.
Earlier placing his welcome, area MLA Norzong Lepcha appealed the assemblage to explore the rich natural bounty in reconstructing the state’s economy towards greater prosperity. Condemning the ever increasing craze for junk foods and cold drinks etc, Norzong Lepcha offered all attentions to nature fresh indigenous food items of Sikkim that, according to him, are nutritious and of medicinal values.
Speaking to Sikkim Express today, area MLA Norzong Lepcha clarified the name and uniqueness of the festival as several of the 84 food items on offer, including known and unknown dishes, are found only in the wild and are never cultivated or produced commercially. “Sikkim is rich in wild and unique traditional foods. Every thing is given to us by nature. With such unique festival, we not only seek to motivate the Sikkimese people, but also let the world know, its time to get back to nature before it is too late”, he added.
The inauguration of the festival today came accompanied by traditional Sangini dance, Lepcha dance, Gurung dance etc. Among the several stalls, crowd puller of the day however was the three cottages of indigenous communities displaying their aboriginal crockery utensils, drinks and food items.
The three days festival is also scheduled to come with vivid cultural shows, highlights on traditional attires, musical nights with artists from Darjeeling, Kolkata, Kathmandu etc. With Zee TV’s Sa Re Ga Ma famed Partho Bhattacharya from Kolkata, Makha is also scheduled to host laughter maestro Prakash Chettri of Siliguri.
The day was also attended by MLA Gangtok NK Pradhan, MLA Ranka Ms Nimthit Lepcha, former & new General Manager to NHPC BK Sharma and SK Mittal and other dignitaries.
(sikkim express)
