Low key Pang Lhabsol celebrations in Sikkim

Gangtok,August5: Amidst a gloom, deep sorrow and grief for the demise of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. YSR Reddy, the 26th Pang Lhabsol celebration was held at Ravangla in South Sikkim Friday. Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling, who was to be chief guest, did not attend the traditional celebration. Instead, the Minister for RM&DD Mr. CB Karki was chief guest of the restrained function.

The celebration started with the traditional ‘Chham’, the warrior dance, at Manelakhang premises, Ravangla.

Chham and the final of Open Volleyball Tournament 2009 were the only two items in the day’s programme. In the volleyball tournament CLC Barfung defeated Tashiding CLC by three sets to one.
The programme was attended by Minister for Power and Cultural Heritage Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, Area MLA Barfung Mr. Sonam Gyatso, MLA Temi-Tarku Mr. BS Panth, Mr. Madan Century, MLA Zoom–Salghari and Political Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KN Rai, among others.
In the capital, Gangtok, the celebration began with a cultural programme on Thursday evening but it was put off on Friday. “As the nation mourns the death of Andhra CM, the cultural fest is postponed”, announced Pang Lhabsol Celebration Committee (Statue of Unity) chairman, Mr. T. Lachungpa. He however distributed prizes to winners of various competitions held on the occasion.