Among the mist, here I go
““Among the mist here I go” – because when I visited the place the valley was half covered with mist and it seemed the river was amidst and I could feel and imagine that most was playing hide and seek with the river which gave me the inspiration to give the title.” Gloria Lepcha
Knowledge Keepers behind the expression
“We went to Dhajey, a small village , the people were good hearted, Ren Dawa Tshering, Ren Budha Tshering and Ren Guptshering Lepcha who helped us and gave their precious time and guide us to the location – zerdom – and have us such a detailed information . And to the people of Dhajey, the soothing river and a rain with whom i was so connected.” Gloria Lepcha
(the untold story of river BALASAN and ZERDOM- a box filled with jewels)
(ᰣᰫᰌᰶ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮᰠᰦ ᰕᰦᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰵ -ᰕᰫᰊᰧᰭᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮᰀᰦᰳ)- ᰄᰨᰛᰧᰶᰚᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰕᰧᰳᰶ
“THERE GOES THE BALACHYON SAYS THE PEOPLE “ – an abstract from the story
The Lepcha folktale of Balasan and Zerdom is a fascinating story of river Balasan, as the rivers of Mayalyang initial starts with the letter ‘R ‘, the interesting fact is that actual name of ‘BALASAN’ is ‘RESHIUNGKUNG’ (detailed is given in story) and later was named ‘BOLACHYON’ and so on the name was pronounced as ‘BALASAN’ in present day.
The Story goes when the river is on her teens like the other teens who wished to wear her mothers jewellery and the curiosity to explore the places leads to an unfortunate ending of two rivers ,there is beautiful twist on this story when she collects her mother precious jewels in a box – known as ‘ZERDOM’.
ZERDOM is a sacred place of LEPCHAS, this place lies in the beautiful place called ‘DHAJEA BUSTY ‘ – this is a beautiful place located in Darjeeling hills, the name is derived from Lepcha word meaning ‘MARSHY LAND ‘, the ancestors used to believe that there used to be a lake in olden days. This beautiful village is located between two rivers namely ‘BALASAN AND RANVAM’.
I have written this story as me being a beautiful flowing river. It brings me great sense of closeness towards the river, when I was in the tour to this beautiful river and ZERDOM, we were inside of cave when the rain stared pouring down as a blessing, the flowing of river made a soothing song as if it was a part of me. The mist, the rain, river, zerdom I felt like it was a part of me which led me towards the serenity and sacredness. I hope the every reader of this story will feel like I have did and feel the serene and sacredness like I did .
wishing love to all readers
Gloria Lepcha
᰼ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰌᰶ ᰍᰩᰰ ᰕ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰇᰩᰰ, ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ᰼ – ᰠᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰈᰬᰳ ᰀᰦ.
ᰛᰩᰵ ᰌᰫᰵᰃᰧᰳᰠᰪᰵ, ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮᰛᰬ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰋᰤᰬᰵᰕᰪᰜᰦ ᰠᰪᰵᰀᰦᰳ ᰕ. ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰈᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰎᰴᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰻ᰛ᰻ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰈᰬᰵᰡᰨ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰋᰵᰶ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵᰛᰬ ᰻ ᰛᰬᰡᰧᰶ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰻ ᰃᰨᰋᰨ ᰕ,ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰻ ᰓᰨᰜᰦᰇᰩᰰ ᰻ ᰜᰧᰶᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰻ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ᰻ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰢᰦᰮ ᰕ.
ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ ᰻ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮ ᰻ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰨᰕ. ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫᰜᰤᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰇᰩᰠᰫᰲ ᰻ ᰌᰦᰙᰬ ᰓᰩᰠᰊᰧᰶ ᰻ ᰀᰦ ᰘᰪᰳᰡᰨ. ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰛᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰠᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰅᰦᰳᰛᰬ ᰻ ᰕᰦᰲᰡᰧᰶ ᰜᰬᰰᰃ᰷ᰥ ᰻ ᰃᰨᰕ . ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰊᰗᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦᰓᰫᰚᰴ, ᰋᰤᰫᰵᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰢᰦᰮᰋᰨ ᰕ . ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰉᰤᰬᰳᰓᰫ ᰻ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰻ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰻ ᰛᰦᰰᰟᰦᰮ ᰻ ᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰘᰪᰳᰌᰦ ᰕ.
ᰊᰌᰨᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰙᰴ ᰆᰧᰵᰶᰓᰦᰰ ᰠᰪᰵᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰎᰧᰶᰋᰨ ᰕ. ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰦ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮ ᰅᰫᰰᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰠᰦᰭᰘᰨ ᰕ. ᰠᰋᰦ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰀᰨᰲ ᰕᰦᰳᰓᰦ, ᰜᰴᰝᰦᰱ ᰍᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰟᰦᰰᰓᰦ ᰠᰨᰎᰥᰩᰭ ᰓᰪᰚᰪ ᰕ, ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰊᰤᰰᰶᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰕᰛᰪᰮ-ᰕᰋᰩᰭ ᰙᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰ ᰕ. ᰣᰪᰰ ᰕᰫᰵᰜᰦᰓᰫ ᰟᰮᰶᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶᰝᰪ ᰛᰪᰵᰌᰦ ᰕ . ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰪᰙᰪᰀᰦᰳ ᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰊᰪᰲᰕᰫᰮ, ᰠᰨ, ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ , ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰪᰙᰪᰀᰦᰳ ᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰚᰶ ᰕ . ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰬᰳ-ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰗᰨᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰀᰩᰰ ᰜᰪᰵᰜᰩᰰ ᰕ.
ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰰ ᰉᰧᰶ, ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮ ᰍᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰕᰤᰫᰵᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰛᰨᰭᰓᰫ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰠᰪᰵᰠᰦ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰠᰦᰭᰘᰨ ᰀᰩᰰ ᰣᰨ.
ᰛᰨᰭᰓᰫ ᰠᰴᰀᰦ ᰜᰤᰬᰰᰇᰩ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱ-
ᰄᰨᰛᰧᰶᰚᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰕᰧᰳᰶ.
Introduction
A valley of MAYAL LAYANG is bathed with morning sunray like the touch of golden glow, the flowers are tossing their head with floating breeze, a soothing and beautiful song is heard afar , there goes the BOLACHYON says the RONGKUPS( LEPCHAS).
LIKE the shimmering stars at night ,my sand glows when the sunlight throws the lights on my river side ,and there goes the visitors admiring the shimmering sand and RONGKUPS never failed to call me RISHIUNGKYONG , a river filled with shimmering sand.
ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰤᰬᰰ
ᰕᰦᰚᰬᰯᰜᰤᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰨᰜᰩ ᰠᰨᰛᰧᰵᰶᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰗᰪᰲᰍᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰙᰴ ᰣᰩᰮᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰊᰤᰬᰳᰕᰫ ᰡᰧᰮᰶᰂᰪᰳᰡᰨ. ᰠᰨᰑᰤᰪᰮ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰛᰧᰱᰶᰠᰦ ᰊᰤᰪᰮᰜᰳᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰮᰶᰞᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰆᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰟᰮᰶᰠᰦ ᰠᰫᰳᰋᰤᰨ ᰢᰦᰮᰕ, ᰻ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰌᰶᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰵ ᰕ ,ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰇᰩᰰ ᰻ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰕ.
ᰠᰨᰍᰦᰱᰀᰦ ᰣᰩᰮᰌᰦᰓᰫ ᰠᰨᰝᰩᰲ ᰙᰴ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰑᰦᰳᰙᰧᰶ ᰣᰩᰮᰡᰨ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰠᰨᰛᰧᰵᰶᰗᰪᰲ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰠᰫᰲᰀᰩᰰ ᰣᰦᰣᰩᰮ ᰁᰩᰵᰓᰦ. ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰍᰨᰵᰡᰨ ᰀᰨᰲᰜᰦᰳᰓᰫ ᰠᰴ, ᰑᰦᰳᰙᰧᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰩᰮᰜᰳᰶ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰻ ᰛᰧᰶᰡᰧᰶ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰻ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰴ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰕᰕᰤᰩᰰ ᰕ, ᰣᰦᰣᰩᰮ ᰑᰦᰳᰙᰧᰶ ᰍᰪ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰌᰦᰓᰫ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ.
THE VALLEY OF DHAJEYOLAYANG ,AMBOTEY, POKHRIBONG is filled with my song among the mist .By now you have come across me .I am RISHIUNGKYONG(later named bolachyon or balasan) the only daughter to my parents TEESTA AND RANGIT and adventurous sister of my brother RAMVAM .A blessed swiftly floating rivers .I was brought up under guidance of my wonderful parents and blessing of IDBUDEBU (GOD) .Now you maybe curious to know my untold story.
ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰨᰜᰤᰦᰵ, ᰣᰦᰮᰓᰨᰀ᰷ᰥᰬ, ᰎᰨᰭᰝᰥᰧᰶᰓᰩᰵ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰎᰴ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰟᰮᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰔᰤᰬᰰ ᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ, ᰊᰪᰲᰕᰫᰮ ᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰝᰩ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰝᰤᰩᰭᰔᰦᰳᰎᰫ, ᰻ ᰛᰧᰶᰡᰧᰶ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰻ (ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰓᰨᰜᰦᰘᰩᰰ ᰚᰴᰍᰬ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰚᰴ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰓᰧᰶ ᰕ). ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰨ-ᰣᰦᰕᰫ ᰛᰪᰵᰉᰫ ᰛᰪᰵᰉᰧᰳᰶᰠᰦ ᰀᰊᰦᰱᰓᰫ ᰊᰣᰤᰪᰀᰪᰱ ᰃᰨ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮ ᰛᰦᰮᰟᰦᰮ ᰠᰦ ᰍᰪᰆᰬᰰᰓᰫ ᰕᰪᰠᰪᰵᰕᰫ ᰃᰨ, ᰣᰧᰳᰌᰤᰬᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰕᰪᰛᰪᰮ-ᰕᰋᰩᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰓᰨ-ᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰜᰩᰰ-ᰣᰦᰀᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰊᰧᰶᰝᰥᰩᰵᰓᰫ ,ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰍᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰵ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰡᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰑᰥᰮᰶ ᰢᰦᰮ ᰣᰶ?
Down to the Valley
Like a valley covered with the white snow during winter, there goes the cloud engulfing the green valley with its stretching arms. I wondered how the beautiful is the valley interlocked like the braided hair, I was curious to know the far- far land, the PARTAM where the river floats in the smooth plain. When I stepped into my teens, my curiosity rose day by day and I was mesmerised to wear my mother jewellery and roam about. One day when everyone was out I wore my mother’s jewels and there went my curiosity over the head and there I go among the valley engulfed with clouds as I went down slowly the cloud was teared by the sunray and I was mesmerised by the beauty of nature, the soft drizzling of raindrops and afar there forms a rainbow like a crown on the valley, the dripping drop of rain on the surface of leaf, the chirping of birds.
ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰜᰚᰰ ᰇᰫᰯ
ᰠᰨᰠᰦᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰌᰫᰮ ᰠᰍᰩᰵ ᰊᰪᰭᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰙᰴ, ᰀᰪᰮᰓᰤᰨᰵ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰀᰶ ᰛᰤᰩᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰍᰩᰰ ᰕ ᰣᰦᰑᰩᰵ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀᰩᰰ ᰃᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰊᰮᰶ ᰕ, ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰠᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰣᰦᰆᰩᰵᰉᰧᰶ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ, ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰮ ᰒᰤᰩᰳᰠᰦ ᰒᰤᰩᰳᰋᰩᰭ ᰙᰴ. ᰣᰦᰓᰦᰜᰬᰰ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰᰓᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰑᰥᰮᰶ ᰕ, ᰣᰦᰚᰧᰯᰶᰓᰫ ᰎᰪᰲᰊᰦᰮ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰛᰪᰵᰌᰦ ᰡᰨ. ᰃᰨ ᰍᰦᰮᰌᰤᰩᰲᰗᰳᰶᰠᰦ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰦᰭᰑᰥᰮᰶᰜᰳᰶ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰕᰇᰬᰳᰌᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰗᰫᰮ ᰓᰪᰌᰧᰶ ᰕ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰤᰪ-ᰕᰫᰊᰧᰭᰶ ᰡᰪᰭᰜᰪᰵ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀᰨᰲᰡᰬᰳ ᰀᰦ. ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰀᰦᰳ ᰜᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰃᰨᰌᰨ ᰀᰊᰦᰱ ᰉᰧᰶᰓᰦ, ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰤᰪ-ᰕᰫᰊᰧᰭᰶ ᰡᰪᰭᰜᰪᰵ ᰃᰨ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀᰨᰲᰜᰪᰵ ᰀᰪᰮᰓᰤᰨᰵ ᰝᰩᰭᰓᰪ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰍᰩᰰ ᰕ᰷ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰋᰫᰭᰀᰦ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰠᰦ ᰆᰩᰵᰜᰳᰶ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰊᰮᰶ ᰕ. ᰠᰨᰊᰧᰠᰦ ᰠᰨᰓᰪᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮᰀᰩᰰ ᰊᰪᰵᰀᰫᰵᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰗᰳᰶᰗᰩᰭ ᰙᰴ ᰈᰦᰮᰙᰫᰭ ᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ , ᰣᰦᰉᰩᰮᰀᰦ ᰠᰨᰊᰧᰭᰶ ᰄᰤᰬᰳᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰑᰨ ᰜᰧᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰋᰤᰨᰓᰦ.
I was living the best day of my life but suddenly the cool breeze brought me back to reality , a reality when my whole life went upside down ,I had already float afar from my family , the darkness was slowly reaching overcoming the drowning sunset which made me overwhelmed me and I was all alone ,I missed my family and I regret on the curiosity I had , I slagged down and realised I was all dressed up on my mother’s jewels ,so I put down on the box calling it ZERDOM.
ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰘᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰤᰫᰮᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰕᰤᰫᰵᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰤᰵᰶᰓᰫ ᰠᰪᰭᰕᰪᰳᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰦᰭᰌᰤᰮᰶ ᰜᰦᰳᰀᰩᰰ ᰕ, ᰣᰦᰋᰵᰶ-ᰣᰦᰚᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰘᰨᰀᰦᰳ ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰘᰪ ᰀᰪᰯᰌᰦᰭᰊᰧᰭ ᰙᰫᰭᰓᰨ ᰕ. ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰙᰦᰘᰩᰵ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱᰍᰝᰦᰰ ᰏᰶ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰩᰰ ᰋᰨ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰗᰪᰭᰋᰤᰬᰳᰠᰦᰌᰨ ᰊᰤᰦᰵᰛᰦᰮᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰀᰩᰰᰓᰨ ᰕ. ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰮᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰨᰮ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰊᰤᰪᰭᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰜᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰᰀᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰋᰭᰶ ᰓᰪᰜᰦᰳᰠᰦ ,ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰦᰭᰑᰥᰮᰶᰜᰳᰶᰀᰩᰰ ᰠᰦᰭᰃᰤᰫᰳ ᰅᰫᰰᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ. ᰕᰪᰙᰪ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰣ ᰣᰤᰪ-ᰕᰫᰊᰧᰭᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰤᰦᰮᰙᰫᰭ ᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰌᰤᰮᰶ ᰜᰦᰳᰠᰦ ,ᰃᰨ ᰣᰫᰭᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮ ᰀᰦᰳᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰊᰩᰕᰦᰳ ᰉᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰓᰧᰶ ᰕ.
conjoining of two souls
When I was confused and overwhelmed with loneliness I heard my named called afar ,I looked back and saw my brother coming ,I rushed to meet him ,and when he said to me “BOLACHYON” – MEANING “LETS GO BACK , but I was not to listen any of his words ,cause I was filled with guilt of floating down without the permission of my parents and especially to my mother because I wore her precious jewels and floated down without any second thought.
ᰣᰦᰎᰧᰯ ᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰣᰦᰙᰫᰮ
ᰕᰋᰤᰦᰭᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰀᰊᰦᰱᰀᰪᰱ ᰅᰫᰰᰓᰦ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰦᰭᰟᰨᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰦᰭᰃᰩᰣᰩᰵ ᰅᰫᰰᰓᰪ ᰜᰦᰳᰓᰦ ,ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮᰜᰩᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰜᰧᰭᰛᰬᰙᰴ ᰋᰤᰨ ᰕ. ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰜᰤᰩᰭ ᰍᰭᰶᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮ ᰊᰧᰮᰓᰫ ᰀᰠᰪᰀᰩᰰ ᰀᰦᰰᰜᰪᰵ ᰌᰧᰳᰌᰤᰬᰳ ᰕ. ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰮᰶ ᰃᰩᰌᰧᰳᰓᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮᰀᰩᰰ ᰕᰜᰦᰭ ᰌᰵᰶ ᰕ.᰻ ᰓᰨᰜᰦᰇᰩᰰ ᰻ (ᰣᰦᰅᰦᰳᰛᰬ ᰼ᰍᰦ, ᰜᰧᰶᰜᰤᰩᰭ ᰍᰩᰰᰀᰦ᰼) ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰙᰪᰳᰀᰦ ᰂᰤᰶᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰕ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰓᰨ-ᰕᰫᰀᰦ ᰕᰜᰧᰰᰓᰦᰰ ᰃᰨ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰨᰲ ᰕ, ᰊᰰᰶᰆᰬᰰᰓᰫ ᰡᰫᰜᰦ ᰠᰦᰭ ᰕᰆᰧᰵᰶᰓᰦᰰ ,ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰤᰪ-ᰕᰫᰊᰧᰭ ᰡᰧᰭᰓᰪ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰌᰶᰓᰪᰍᰩᰰ ᰚᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰᰓᰦ ,ᰍᰩᰵᰜᰩᰮᰌᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰦᰭᰣᰫᰭᰜᰳᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰔᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ.
Still I was brought back by my brother calling me and he insisted me to go back home telling me everything is going to be fine ,but I said to him I’ll be still going on from now on as I have come this far , so my brother never the less won’t leave me alone and he too float with me but with one condition-“ that we are never going to cross our paths with our parents anymore in our life “. So hence from then on we never meet our parents and we float down as one river together calling “BALASAN”.
ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦᰜᰦ, ᰜᰧᰶ ᰜᰩᰟᰫᰵᰀᰦ ᰚᰴ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰕᰦᰳ ᰜᰪᰭ ᰕ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰡᰫᰜᰦ ᰕᰕᰦᰳ ᰕ ᰠᰦ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰨᰓᰦᰰ ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰕᰉᰧᰰ ᰕ, ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰩᰰ ,ᰃᰨ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰛᰤᰦᰭᰜᰪᰵ ᰇᰫᰯᰌᰨ ᰌᰶᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰰᰡᰨ. ᰣᰦᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰜᰧᰶᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰌᰶᰡᰨ ᰠᰦ ᰣᰣᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰆᰦ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰋᰨ ᰕ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰙᰪᰱᰊᰩ ᰀᰦᰳᰀᰦ ᰼ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰌᰶᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰵᰓᰦ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰓᰨ-ᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰕᰝᰤᰩᰭᰍᰬ᰼.
ᰣᰨᰜᰨᰮ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ, ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰣᰨᰋᰦᰍᰪ , ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰓᰨ-ᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰕᰝᰤᰩᰭ ᰓᰦᰰ ᰉᰤᰬᰳᰓᰫ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰀᰦ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰌᰶᰕ ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ᰻ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ᰻ ᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰋᰧᰭᰶᰓᰪ.
“It was adventurous when I did this project, in many cases people have forgot the story and many youngsters have left to listen to the story. And I wish I could have learned to talk in Lepcha because I failed to know them better. I felt the journey was an encouraging one. When I was writing this project I was stuck between how will I go further in this project, and it was raining that night. I came outside where the world was dark only the raindrops hitting the roof, afar I heard the River Rungdung on its great flow and i could reminisce the day I was next to the River Balasan, I closed my eyes and felt the raindrops on my hand, than I could feel the same touch on that day when I was on the destination of my project .Than getting inspiration I sat back and wrote the story again. I missed the mist and so I felt the great companion of River Balasan and hence kept the title “Among the mist here I go “.” Gloria Lepcha
“When we had a trip to Dhajey, I got sick that day and I felt I’m never gonna make it but still I went, I was sick until the half way but when I reached the destination everything changed I felt better and when we wanted to visit zerdom. As soon as we entered the cave the rain started pouring as if it was meant for me, the soothing sound of River Balasan kept the joy in my heart, I felt as if the Balasan is calling me to dance with her song, the the thunder in the far distance and lightning hit differently, the mist floating above the hill, the moment was most capturing, and yah it was meant to be I guess when the dumden was golden in colour, where the River Balasan was golden and “zer” means jewel, which made me more mesmerized. I felt that every raindrop was close to me, every rain drop on my skin felt I was connected to it. Still when I write this I feel goosebumps and I get butterflies in my stomach.” Gloria Lepcha
“ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰠᰋᰦᰃᰨ ᰌᰩᰙᰬ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦ ᰀᰨᰲᰢᰪᰵᰓᰦ, ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶ ᰣᰶᰗᰩᰵ ᰃᰨᰀᰦᰮ ᰌᰩᰭᰢᰪᰵᰍᰪ ᰓᰫᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰃᰨ ᰣᰨᰓᰦᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰂᰤᰶ ᰕᰂᰪᰳᰎᰫ ᰚᰴᰜᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰ ᰜᰦᰳᰢᰪᰵ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰡᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰡᰫᰌᰨ ᰃᰫᰛᰫᰵ ᰃᰨ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰢᰪᰵ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰃᰨ ᰜᰩᰮᰐᰬᰳ ᰠᰴᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰀᰦᰮ ᰕᰪᰙᰪ ᰕᰂᰪᰳᰌᰨ ᰃᰫᰛᰫᰵ ᰡᰬᰰ ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰂᰤᰶᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰂᰤᰶᰢᰪᰵᰠᰦ ᰌᰨ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰜᰤᰩᰭᰎᰨᰛᰬ ᰙᰴ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰢᰪᰵ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰃᰨ ᰊᰌᰨᰮᰜᰦ ᰕᰪᰢᰳᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰤᰫᰮ ᰉᰩᰵᰜᰦ ᰍᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰈᰬᰲᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰮ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰢᰪᰵᰓᰦ ᰜᰴᰝᰦᰱ ᰍᰩᰵᰠᰃᰩᰵ ᰟᰦᰰᰂᰪᰳᰠᰦᰌᰨ ᰠᰨᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰌᰩᰵ ᰕ. ᰓᰪᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰣᰫᰀᰤᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰠᰫᰳᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰮᰶ ᰣᰦᰃᰩ ᰙᰫᰭᰓᰨ ᰕ .ᰠᰓᰦ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰣᰶᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰟᰮᰶ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰜᰩᰭᰀᰦ ᰜᰧᰭᰛᰬᰙᰴ, ᰣᰦᰛᰪᰮ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰌᰤᰬᰲ ᰠᰜᰤᰩᰱᰠᰦ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰛᰬᰭᰢᰦᰮᰍᰪ ᰀᰪᰮᰓᰤᰨᰵ ᰊᰪᰲᰕᰫᰮ ᰣᰶᰎᰴᰜᰦ ᰞᰨᰀᰪᰵ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰎᰴᰀᰦ ᰜᰮᰶᰌᰦ ᰍᰪ ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰣᰦᰕᰤᰫᰵ ᰣᰶᰎᰴ ᰋᰨ ᰀᰤᰩᰱᰕᰶᰜᰦ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰢᰪᰵ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰅᰫᰰᰃᰦᰳᰓᰫ ᰊᰰᰶᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰠᰓᰦ ᰌᰪᰮᰌᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰓᰦᰜᰦᰠᰦᰰ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰘᰨᰜᰦ ᰈᰬᰲᰘᰨᰍᰪ ᰔᰤᰬᰰ ᰋᰨᰢᰪᰵᰍᰪ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰈᰬᰲ ᰠᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰅᰦᰳ ᰃᰧᰶᰆᰩᰀᰦᰳᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰣᰨᰜᰨᰮᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰐᰩᰭᰌᰨ ᰠᰦᰭᰣᰩᰵᰕᰶᰜᰦᰆᰬᰰ ᰙᰫᰭ ᰢᰪᰵᰃᰪᰮ. ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰶ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰠᰨᰊᰤᰪᰭᰎᰴᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰌᰪᰰ ᰅᰫᰰᰛᰬ ᰙᰴ , ᰀᰠᰪᰏᰴ ᰄᰫᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰠᰨᰊᰤᰪᰭ ᰣᰶᰎᰴᰜᰦ ᰡᰫ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶᰛᰬᰙᰴᰜᰦ ᰉᰩᰵᰢᰪᰵ ᰍᰪ ᰕᰨ. ᰣᰦᰜᰴᰊᰤᰬᰳᰜᰦ ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰎᰴ ᰎᰧᰰᰚᰳᰶᰜᰤᰫᰀᰦ ᰎᰧᰶᰢᰪᰵᰓᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰕᰪᰙᰪᰀᰦ ᰊᰤᰮᰶ ᰕᰶᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰕᰤᰫᰵᰎᰴ ᰉᰩᰵ ᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ.” ᰄᰨᰛᰧᰚᰦ ᰜᰬᰱᰆᰦ
“THE OTHER FORM OF EXPRESSING LOVE IS BY GIVING GRATITUDE“
Acknowledgements by Gloria Lepcha
With this quote I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my backbones who gave me opportunity and help me for this research to be a successful one. From my deep corner of heart I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. JENNY BENTLEY and RENYU MINKET LEPCHA for giving me such an opportunity and guiding me and my gratitude to REN BUDDHA LEPCHA, REN GUPTSHRING LEPCHA AND REN DAWA LEPCHA for their precious time and being the guidance to me, also to REN KARMA TSHERING LEPCHA for his beautiful photography. And to all the persons at my back who always support me and above I would like to thank heavenly father for protecting and guiding and making this research a success.
᰼ᰜᰤᰬᰰᰇᰩ ᰉᰬᰳᰡᰴᰠᰦ ᰛᰪᰵᰠᰲᰶ ᰌᰤᰫᰯᰘᰳᰶᰛᰬ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰇᰧᰶ ᰐᰪᰍᰪ ᰅᰫᰰᰡᰨ᰼
ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰇᰧᰶ ᰓᰧᰶᰡᰴ
ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰛᰧᰵᰶᰘᰩᰭ ᰊᰰᰶᰊᰩᰱ ᰕᰦᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰮᰶᰌᰧᰵᰶᰜᰩᰮ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰇᰧᰶ ᰐᰪᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ. ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰲ ᰙᰬᰍᰧᰶ ᰓᰬᰰᰀ᰷ᰥᰜᰧᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰉᰫ ᰕᰧᰰᰀᰧᰳᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰕᰧᰳ ᰛᰤᰬᰮᰃᰨ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰇᰧᰶ ᰣᰦᰊᰧᰮᰶ ᰐᰪᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰙᰴᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰋᰤᰪᰰ ᰓᰨᰰᰓᰫᰀᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰓᰫᰌᰌᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰜᰩᰮᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰓᰨᰰᰓᰫᰀᰦ ,ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰫᰱ ᰇᰧᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰌᰦᰟᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰠᰦ ᰃᰩᰵᰇᰧᰮᰓᰫ ᰊᰗᰳᰶ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰓᰨᰰᰓᰫᰀᰦ, ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰀᰦᰲᰕᰦ ᰇᰧᰛᰧᰵᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰛᰤᰬᰮᰜᰦ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰩᰭᰇᰧᰶ ᰐᰪᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ. ᰣᰦᰆᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰑᰨᰀ᰷ᰥᰨᰃᰥᰦᰑᰧᰶ ᰠᰦ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰊᰩᰱᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰩᰵᰃᰤᰩᰆᰬᰰᰓᰫ ᰑᰦᰌᰦᰲᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰃᰤᰶ ᰓᰩᰰᰓᰫᰀᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰌᰩᰵᰓᰥᰧᰯ ᰃᰬᰝᰳᰶ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰪᰱᰡᰴᰀᰦ ᰞᰬᰰᰊᰩᰱ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱ ᰓᰨᰰᰓᰫ ᰀᰦ.
Story by Gloria Lepcha
Photographs by Karma Tshering Lepcha
Translations by Cholamoo Lepcha
Mentored by Minket Lepcha