about me

My name is Junu Pundi Lepcha. Born and brought up in Sikkim.

I don’t actually know the meaning of my name (kaha ka influence hai woh bhi nahi maloom) but during school days I used to associate the meaning of my name to “JUNOON” seet!! Hindi word for passion. Pundi in Rongring means Queen.

What I value and respect about myself is my darkness. My anger.pain.hurt.struggle. melancholy. Strangely owning my darkness has helped me understand myself and others better.

What is storytelling to me?

I understood Storytelling, especially when we are collecting from others need be respected and not tampered with.

What is sacred to me?

Sacred is an essence that springs from within. Everything touched by that essence is chaste and yet vulnerable to being misused and mistreated.

ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰌᰨ ᰣᰶ ᰗᰩᰵᰜᰳᰶᰃᰪᰮ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰀᰦᰌᰨᰓᰬᰭ ᰜᰩᰮᰍᰪ ᰗᰫᰯᰍᰪᰀᰦ ᰝᰥᰩᰵ ᰡᰴᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰗᰩᰵᰜᰳᰶ ᰣᰶᰀᰦ ᰇᰩᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰠᰛᰬᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶᰎᰴ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰊᰌᰨᰓᰬᰭ ᰣᰶ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰶᰜᰳᰶᰎᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰓᰪᰋᰨ ᰡᰴᰜᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰕ. ᰡᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰊᰦᰭᰡᰧᰭ ᰕᰕᰦᰳᰃᰴ ᰗᰩᰵᰜᰳᰶ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰜᰩᰮᰕᰤᰫ ᰜᰩᰮᰑᰥᰤᰩᰰ ᰣᰦᰈᰬᰰᰀᰦ ᰓᰪᰍᰩᰵ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰫ ᰣᰤᰨᰭᰎᰴ ᰅᰫᰰᰂᰪᰳᰡᰨ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰴᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰩᰯ ᰕᰅᰫᰰᰍᰬ

And finally this picture. Took this a few days back @ Kabi Lungchaok. I think it’s the place. the mystery. the history. The longing for connection. ancestors Thyukung Tek Nyukung Ngal. Their story and how it builds up to ours. The respite of escapism. It’s nice to feel moved every now and then.

Finding my sacred place.

Now that I think about the last two sessions…the title “ARRIVING at our sacred place” making profound sense. I almost cried when Anom Minket had said ” before we venture out… searching for our sacred land and stories… what we meant to do today is to look for our sacredness inward” And I was unable to find it. But then it wasn’t just me.

Honestly the first time was doubts and judgements and feeling stupid breathing and jhooling.

The art day then came with another revelation…

Our Anomsong dealing with tough nuts/crackheads here.

But I feel grateful for this opportunity. And for everyone here nom eng num song.

You are bridging generation gaps. Connecting us to our roots.

“What you are seeking is seeking you”- Rumi We seeking you. You seeking us. And here we are creating magic. Hence.

I as a Lepcha

I’m blessed to be born a Lepcha, amidst the Himalayas, the mountains, greens, rivers and deities. I also feel deeply torn when I sit with the knowledge of our historical past.

Yet to discover the true essence/meaning of being Lepcha.