“We were able to meet with many elders of our community along with scholars who have been working closely with our community who have guided and helped us collect these stories and have been very generous in sharing with us their personal experiences. When we visited our elders who answered many of our questions patiently we felt pride and overwhelmed with how they opened up to us without any judgement.”
Rachelmit Namphok Lepcha

“Firstly it was all family who gave information, then I moved to Darjeeling and with my partner we gather information from many people whose name I can’t recall. The crucial information that I gathered was from national library where there where various books on Darjeeling.” 
Takbothing Tarjokmoo Lepcha

“We were overwhelmed by the support and encouragement we have received from our community elders who invited us to their homes and gave us their valuable time to share stories we would have otherwise not known. The walking from one place to another together sharing what we had learned and were unlearning was a very beautiful experience. We were very engrossed in this story and the entire mood manifested in our daily lives and dreams. We both experienced very vivid symbolic dreams.”  Rachelmit Namphok Lepcha

“Though there was an avalanche of emotions/expression that was going on but the main thing that I fear is I don’t want this story to be like any other stories ,which will be stuck in the pages of history like many others did.” 
Takbothing Tarjokmoo Lepcha

ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰡᰫ ᰕᰪᰕᰦᰳ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰜᰦᰱᰡᰴ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ
ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰝᰩᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰤᰩᰰᰍᰩᰰᰋᰨ ᰃᰨᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰝᰤᰪᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰨ ᰕ
ᰃ᰷ᰥᰦᰚᰧᰍᰨᰠᰀᰥᰧᰠᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰦᰍᰨᰎᰩᰜᰩᰠ

What didn’t you do to bury me
But you forgot that I was a seed
Dinos Christianopoulos

ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮᰀᰦ,ᰀᰠᰪ ᰋᰤᰫᰵ ᰆᰪᰮᰓᰦᰰ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰜᰦᰜᰤᰩᰭ ᰍᰩᰵᰓᰦ, ᰜᰩᰮᰓᰦᰲᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰟᰦᰲ-ᰟᰦᰲ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰠᰦ ᰊᰤᰬᰳᰕᰪ ᰉᰩᰵᰜᰪᰵ, ᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰃ᰷ᰥᰦᰮ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰎᰪᰵᰀᰦ ᰅᰦᰘᰨ ᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰠᰮᰶᰍᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰉᰧᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰟᰤᰬᰳᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰜᰤᰬᰰ ᰌᰩᰵ ᰡᰴ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰦᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰭᰀᰦ.

When I was child, I was returning home one afternoon after visiting my grandfather who lived some blocks away. As I walked back, I stopped and sat on a heap of rocks on the sidewalk and began a quest to find ones that fascinated me.

ᰕᰌᰫᰭ-ᰕᰌᰫᰭ ᰘᰨ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰌᰫᰭᰘᰳᰶᰠᰦ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰊᰪᰵᰃᰧᰱᰶᰀᰦ ᰃᰤᰨᰮᰜᰪᰵ ᰗᰪᰵᰡᰴ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰟᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮᰍᰪᰌᰨ ᰌᰶ ᰌᰦ ᰕ.

I used to have a collection of tiny rocks in different colours and shapes which I used to carry with me in a pouch whenever I went out to play.

ᰣᰨᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰊᰨᰜᰨᰜᰦ ᰊᰣᰤᰪᰕᰫᰀᰦᰳ ᰀᰠᰪᰌᰪᰰᰀᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰓᰦᰰ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱ ᰊᰪᰭᰕᰫ ᰕᰦᰳᰕᰨ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰡᰤᰩᰳᰊᰤᰫᰭᰓᰦᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰀᰶᰜᰩᰮ ᰊᰪᰵᰃᰧᰱ ᰀᰧᰳᰜᰪᰵ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱ ᰊᰪᰭᰈᰧᰰ ᰗᰪᰵᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰎᰪᰵᰀᰦ ᰌᰤᰬᰯ ᰕ. ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰙᰴᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰗᰪᰮᰊᰤᰬᰰᰜᰳᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰨᰮ ᰆᰳᰶ ᰕ . ᰣᰦᰕᰧᰭᰀᰦ ᰕᰧᰭᰃ᰷ᰥᰫᰮ ᰣᰦᰔᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰋᰤᰪᰭᰓᰪ ᰃᰨ ᰜᰧᰶᰜᰩᰳᰟᰫᰵ ᰜᰩᰳ ᰕ.

Suddenly a woman approached me and snatched my pouch, she emptied it all on the heap and began to shake me vigorously and called me a thief for stealing her stones. I was shook and ran back home crying.

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰩᰵᰋᰫᰭ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰᰓᰦ ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱᰌᰨ ᰑᰦᰰᰃᰩ ᰕᰦᰳᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰚᰪᰮᰓᰦ. ᰀᰫᰵᰝᰥᰩᰰ ᰡᰴ, ᰠᰨ ᰑᰦᰳ ᰊᰤᰧᰭ-ᰊᰤᰧᰭᰀᰦ ᰊᰤᰪᰭᰜᰩᰭ, ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮ ᰑᰩᰭᰌᰨ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰀᰨᰲ, ᰡᰫᰕᰦᰳ ᰃᰫᰛᰫᰵᰜᰦ ᰊᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰨᰮ ᰕᰕᰦᰳᰓᰦᰰ ᰜᰤᰬᰮ ᰕ . ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰊᰪᰭᰍᰩᰯ, ᰌᰶᰋᰫᰵ, ᰜᰴᰀ᰷ᰥᰧᰭ , ᰕᰌᰫᰭ-ᰕᰌᰫᰭᰓᰫ ᰘᰨ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰌᰫᰭᰘᰳᰶ-ᰌᰫᰭᰜᰳᰶᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰉᰩᰮ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰋᰤᰬᰵᰕᰪᰜᰦ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰓᰪᰜᰦᰳ. ᰣᰦᰑᰥᰤᰩᰭᰀᰦ ᰓᰩᰠᰊᰧᰶ ᰍᰩᰵᰓᰦ ᰀᰫᰵ ᰠᰛᰤᰨ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰝᰤᰩᰭᰓᰪ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰌᰪᰱᰀᰦ ᰀᰫᰵ ᰌᰫᰱᰌᰦᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰧᰶ ᰘᰨᰓᰦ ᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰂᰤᰶᰜᰦᰳᰍᰩᰰᰠᰦ ᰠᰫᰳᰓᰨ ᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ , ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰜᰦᰳᰓᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰃᰩ ᰓᰪᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ.

I had a very fun filled childhood, I used to love climbing trees, sliding down the slippery hill, playing in the mud, sand, river, springs, running around freely, I used to be fascinated by rocks, pebbles, snail shells, different coloured leaves, their shapes and sizes. I used to enjoy going to the busty during the holidays, hiking through the forest, passing by springs and crossing rivers, the smell of burning wood used to be overwhelming, a sign that we had neared our destination the village where we would be staying for the next few days.

ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰍᰩᰮᰜᰬᰵᰀᰦᰳ ᰝᰫᰰᰓᰦ, ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰀᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰅᰦᰘᰨᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰪᰱ ᰕ . ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰀᰪᰲᰟᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰌᰦᰉᰧᰶᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰠᰨ, ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ᰌᰶ ᰌᰦᰓᰫ , ᰠᰨᰜᰦᰀᰦ ᰊᰪᰭᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰫᰭ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰋᰦᰮᰓᰧᰭ ᰜᰧᰭᰌᰦᰓᰫ ,ᰀᰪᰵᰞᰨ, ᰆᰫᰜᰬᰱ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰑᰤᰪᰵᰓᰫ ᰊᰪᰭᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰅᰭᰶᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰜᰪᰳ ᰆᰬᰳᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰵᰛᰬᰙᰴ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰕ, ᰝᰥᰦᰱᰓᰪ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰍᰦᰭᰜᰪᰵ ,ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰀᰦ ᰌᰨ.

As an adult I have always found solace in nature, a sense of comfort and belonging, the wilderness has always felt like home to me, the sound of rain, rivers flowing, toads and crickets in the evening, and the sight of hills, mountains and the skyline give me a feeling as though something beautiful is piercing through my heart, tearing it and mending it at the same time.

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰓᰦᰮᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫᰜᰤᰦᰵ, sudambu chyu lyangkhour lower Himilayan region ᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮᰓᰫ ᰝᰧᰯ ᰠᰀ᰷ᰥᰬᰡᰩᰰ , ᰗᰪᰭᰀᰤᰬᰲ ᰓᰦᰵᰃᰦᰯᰀᰦ ,ᰠᰛᰬᰛᰬ ᰃᰤᰦᰀᰦᰲᰠᰦ ᰗᰪᰭᰀᰤᰬᰲ ᰍᰩᰵᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰌᰤᰬ (Northernmost District) ᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰪᰮ.

I live in Darjeeling, a small hill station tucked away in the lower Himalayan region making it the northernmost district of West Bengal in India.

ᰣᰤᰦ ᰊᰗᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰻ ᰛᰪᰮ ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰨᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰻ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰑᰩᰵᰆᰬᰰ ᰎᰪᰰᰙᰩᰭᰍᰪᰰ ᰟᰨᰲᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰬᰳᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰠᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰛᰪᰮᰌᰨᰭᰠᰦ ᰓᰦᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ. ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰓᰦᰮᰓᰫ, ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴ ᰀᰊᰦᰱ ᰃᰨᰋᰨ ᰕ. ᰣᰦᰆᰬ ᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰻ ᰕᰫᰊᰰᰶᰆᰧᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰻ ( ᰣᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰕᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰬᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴ) ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰭᰡᰨ.

It is said that this beautiful hill town used to be known as “Rum DarjyoLyang” which means a place where God resides, when it used to be a virgin hill covered by dense forests and the only people who lived here were the Lepchas who are the indigenous people of this region. We call ourselves Mutanchi Rong kup which means children of God. The term Lepcha is now widely used to address us and is also accepted by the community; it originates from the Nepali derogatory term “Lap-che”.

ᰛᰩᰵ ᰣᰦᰃᰧᰳᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰣᰧᰳ-ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰬ, ᰣᰦᰣᰧᰳᰕᰫᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰕᰶᰡᰨ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰎᰪᰰᰙᰩᰭᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰠᰦ ᰌᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰍᰦᰮ ᰍᰪᰰᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦᰢᰪᰵᰠᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰇᰩᰊᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰑᰨᰭᰛᰦᰮ-ᰆᰵᰶᰛᰦᰮ ᰎᰴᰠᰦ ᰚᰮᰶᰊᰰᰶ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰦᰳᰓᰦ ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰮ ᰕᰤᰬᰯᰚᰴᰆᰬᰰ ᰻ ᰎᰪᰰᰙᰩᰭ ᰂᰳᰶᰎᰰᰶ ᰻ ᰠᰦ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰋᰫᰱᰋᰨ ᰉᰧᰶ.

The Lepchas worship and co- exist with nature, and since they have lived in the forests since time immemorial, they have thorough knowledge of the landscape and the flora and fauna of this place, which is also one of the reasons why they are known as “excellent botanists” and practitioners of traditional medicine because their knowledge of medicinal plants is endless.

ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰓᰨ ᰑᰨᰭᰛᰦᰮ-ᰆᰶᰛᰦᰮᰀᰦ ᰚᰮᰶᰎᰰᰶ ᰃᰨ ᰕ, ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰋᰦᰮᰓᰤᰪᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰫᰵ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰡᰧᰶᰌᰦᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰋᰤᰦᰭ ᰂᰪᰳ.

My father is an expert of the local flora and fauna, he can name almost all the plants and trees that we see in the region along with their uses, I believe his interest and knowledge is a gift which comes naturally to him since it is a part of our identity, of being a Mutanchi Rong kup.

ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰋᰪᰳ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰌᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰬᰭ ᰜᰩᰮᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶᰌᰦ ᰕ . ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰙᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰮᰌᰨ ᰅᰫᰰᰡᰨ, ᰃᰨᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩ ᰀᰦᰳᰌᰨ ᰃᰪᰮ ,ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰕᰫᰊᰰᰶᰆᰧᰶ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰠᰦ ᰌᰫᰭᰜᰳᰶ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰕᰂᰪᰳᰍᰬ , ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰋᰪᰳ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰨ ᰕ.

Similarly, my connection and relationship with nature, a sense of belonging is natural, I did not wake up one day and decide to feel this way, I have always felt this way, I am a part of nature, we all are. The relationship between a Mutanchi Rong kup and nature cannot be put down in words or comprehended, it is sacred.

ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰃᰪᰰ ᰌᰫᰭᰘᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰠᰶᰡᰨ, ᰣᰫᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵ ,ᰣᰫᰵᰌᰶ ,ᰌᰪᰱ,ᰆᰫ,ᰞᰨ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰤᰨᰵᰂᰫᰲ ᰕᰙᰫᰭ ᰕ. ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰶ ᰡᰫᰊᰗᰳᰶᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰜᰴ ᰗᰩᰭᰡᰨ.

The Lepchas worship nature and all forms of nature like rivers, lakes, streams, jungles, mountains and caves and do not build temples or places of worship. During sacred ceremonies and rituals tall stones are erected, these stones are called “longchyok” which in the Lepcha language means stones which are standing.

ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰉᰧᰶ-ᰕᰉᰧᰰᰓᰫ ᰃᰪᰰᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰠᰶᰡᰨ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰩᰵᰠᰦ ᰗᰪᰍᰬᰓᰫ , ᰕᰪᰰ-ᰓᰨᰵᰋᰧᰵᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰪᰮ ᰠᰶᰡᰨ, ᰣᰦᰗᰩᰵᰓᰫ ᰋᰦᰮᰎᰩᰳ- ᰛᰤᰪᰮᰎᰩᰳ, ᰛᰧᰱᰶ, ᰓᰫᰭ, ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰀᰦ ᰉᰧᰮᰓᰫ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰐᰪᰡᰨ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰆᰧᰰᰜᰩᰱ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱ ᰣᰦᰏᰴ ᰌᰦᰀᰩᰰᰣᰨ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ ᰜᰩᰵᰗᰩᰭ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰛᰪᰮ-ᰛᰪᰮᰌᰦᰲᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰓᰦᰮᰀᰦᰳ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶ ᰕᰦᰳᰡᰨ.

All forms of nature are sacred and the Lepcha shamans, Mun and Bungthing pray to the Gods to come upon the “longchyok” and reside in them as they make offerings and carry out rituals to appease the Gods. The “longchyok” act as a temporary abode of the Gods.

ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰠᰦᰜᰤᰫᰀᰦᰳ ᰆᰧᰵᰶᰡᰨ, ᰛᰪᰮ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰠᰶᰓᰦ, ᰃᰨᰵᰇᰧᰮᰶ ᰣᰦᰊᰤᰰᰶ ᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰀᰤᰩᰱᰓᰦ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰇᰩᰮᰊᰪᰰᰚᰪᰭ ᰛᰧᰵᰶᰒᰤᰩᰳ ᰕᰦᰳᰓᰦ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰎᰓᰦᰲᰜᰦ ᰍᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰗᰩᰭᰅᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰡᰧᰶᰡᰨ, ᰣᰦᰜᰨ ᰊᰤᰬᰳᰓᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰦᰓᰧᰶ ᰀᰤᰨᰵᰀᰦ ᰀᰦᰓᰧᰶ ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰙᰴᰓᰫ ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰃᰪᰮ ᰠᰛᰬᰛᰬ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰋᰤᰫᰀᰫᰵ ᰊᰬᰭ- ᰉᰫᰀᰫᰵ ᰅᰦᰯ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰂᰤᰬᰓᰫᰮᰠᰦ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰩᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰎᰳᰶ ᰕᰧᰃᰧᰳᰓᰬᰭ ᰣᰦᰍᰪᰮ-ᰣᰧᰵᰶᰠᰦ ᰇᰩᰮᰊᰪᰰᰚᰪᰭ ᰀᰶᰕᰧᰵᰶ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰕ.

They are considered sacred and symbolic as they are stones which were erected by the Lepchas to honour the Gods, mark important events, or declare covenants and treaties. There are many “longchyok” which can be seen standing till this day, some which are considered sacred and some which mark historical events like the KabiLungchok in the forests of the village of Kabi, North Sikkim.

ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦ ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰀᰪᰵᰀᰦ ᰗᰩᰭᰡᰨ ,ᰣᰤᰦ ᰉᰫᰋᰧᰵᰶᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰶ ᰡᰨ, ᰣᰦᰌᰫᰮ ᰠᰍᰩᰵ ᰊᰪᰭᰌᰦᰓᰫ ᰆᰫᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱᰜᰪᰵ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰗᰩᰵᰝᰧᰳᰓᰫᰀᰦᰳ ᰆᰧᰵᰶᰡᰨ. ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰪᰵᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰼ ᰣᰩᰓᰙᰩᰲᰟᰬᰀ᰷ᰥᰨᰛᰧᰶ ᰀᰪᰵ ᰼ ᰚᰴ ᰜᰧᰶᰍᰪ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰡᰨ.

In Darjeeling we are able to find the “Lungchyok” in the “Kaung” which means a hill top, our ancestors used to perform rituals and offer prayers to the Gods on the hill top, from there they could marvel at the sight of the majestic mountains that they worshipped and the surroundings hills and were in awe of God’s creation, they believed that this hill was sacred. Today this place is known as the Observatory Hill.

ᰚᰪᰭᰕᰪᰰ ᰌᰩᰲᰙᰧᰶ ᰛᰧᰰᰶᰙᰧᰵᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᱁᱇᱆᱅ ᰀᰦ ᰻ ᰌᰨᰲᰙᰧᰶ ᰜᰧᰵᰶ ᰻ ᰜᰧᰰᰓᰫ ᰓᰫᰌᰧᰠᰀ᰷ᰥ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰙᰫᰭᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰪᰵ ᰜᰤᰬᰰ ᰆᰪᰱᰀᰦᰮ ᰣᰦᰕᰧᰰ ᰙᰫᰭᰋᰩᰮ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰕᰗᰩᰮᰎᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰡᰨ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰞᰨᰓᰫ ᰀᰤᰨᰵᰀᰦ ᰎᰨᰝᰦᰳ. ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰏᰴ ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ ᰡᰧᰶᰟᰦ ᰝᰧᰰᰌᰫ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ.

A Buddhist Monastery called “Dorji- Ling” was built by Lama Dorjey Rinzing in 1765 a little below the “kaung” which is said to be “desecrated and destroyed” after which it was shifted to Bhutia Busty and is now known as the Bhutia Busty Monastery. Gradually the place turned into a Hindu temple devoted to the Hindu god Shiva.

ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰌᰤᰫᰯᰣᰤᰨᰭᰀᰦ ᰊᰦᰭᰓᰨᰋᰧᰵᰶ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰣᰦᰘᰩᰭ ᰊᰤᰩᰯᰃᰨ ᰕ. ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰌᰬᰱᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰠᰪᰵᰎᰴ ᰉᰤᰬᰰᰡᰴ ᰝᰪ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰀᰨᰯᰀᰦᰊᰦ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫᰜᰤᰦᰵ (ᰠᰓᰦ ᰝᰪ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰓᰦᰮᰡᰨ) ᰀᰦ ᰝᰥᰩᰵ ᰕ. ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱᰕᰫ ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰠᰴ ᰗᰪᰮᰋᰫᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰦᰱᰓᰫ ᰋᰤᰫᰵ-ᰉᰫᰀᰫᰵ ᰠᰴᰜᰩᰮ ᰚᰮᰶᰊᰰᰶ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰪᰱ ᰡᰪ ᰕ.

Takbothing is my Teammate on this project and when we learnt about this story he came all the way from Kolkata where he now lives to Darjeeling. We were able to meet with various people including our Elders and learn from them.

ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰶ ᰍᰝᰦᰍ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰬᰍᰧᰠᰗᰪᰮ ᰕ, ᰊᰫ ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰮ ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶ ᰣᰬᰠ.ᰣᰬᰮ ᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶᰠᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰗᰪᰮᰀᰩᰰ. ᰜᰨᰎᰰᰶᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰮ ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰍᰪᰰ ᰎᰧᰶᰍᰩᰵᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰇᰨ ᰼ ᰝᰦᰮᰛᰨ ᰌᰩᰠᰊᰦᰟᰧᰶᰙ᰼ ᰛᰨᰭᰓᰨ ᰕ, ᰠᰓᰦ ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮᰀᰦ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰨᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰀᰪᰵᰀᰦ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰨᰜᰩᰌᰨ ᰍᰩᰵᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰪᰮᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱ ᰚᰴᰠᰦ ᰎᰧᰶᰋᰩᰮ ᰕ.

On the first day we met with Mr Dennis Lepcha who guided us towards Mr S.M Lepcha whom we were able to visit at his home. He read to us from “HamroDastawej” his book where he writes about the time he used to go with his father to the “kaung” to offers prayers in the early hours of dawn as a child.

ᰀᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰤᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴᰍᰪᰰ ᰠᰶᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰓᰫᰌᰧᰠᰀ᰷ᰥ, ᰝᰧᰰᰌᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰥᰧᰠᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰎᰓᰦᰲᰜᰦ ᰜᰦᰳᰓᰫᰠᰴ ᰍᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰠᰶᰡᰨ.

Today, the “kaung” which the Lepchas used to worship has grown into a shared space by Buddhists, Hindus and Christians and devotees from all over the world come to worship at this sacred space.

ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ, ᰝᰧᰰᰌᰫ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰇᰫᰯ ᰆᰩᰲᰗ ᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ . ᰀᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰗᰩᰭᰓᰦ ᰣᰦᰝᰤᰪᰀᰦᰳ ᰋᰤᰦᰵᰛᰬᰙᰴ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰕ, ᰠᰛᰬᰛᰬ ᰓᰳᰶᰓᰪ ᰊᰧᰶᰓᰪ ᰛᰪᰮᰠᰦ ᰜᰧᰶᰙᰫᰭ ᰕ.

It is a space where there is a Monastery, a Hindu Temple and a Church further below. Truly the “Lungchyok” was a seed planted on the hill which has grown and continues to grow into an abode for the Gods.

ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ ᰛᰩᰵᰀᰪᰱᰠᰴ ᰓᰫᰌᰧᰙᰦᰮ, ᰝᰧᰰᰌᰫᰙᰦᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰥᰧᰠᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰬᰰ ᰀᰩᰰ ᰟᰦᰰᰋᰓᰫ ᰉᰧᰶ, ᰡᰤᰬᰰᰜᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰍᰩᰵᰀᰦ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮᰓᰫ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮ ᰣᰧᰭᰆᰦ ᰌᰨᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮ ᰉᰧᰶ.

Many Lepchas today have adopted Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity, but their connection and love for nature remains as though a powerful invisible force binds them together.

ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰕᰦᰝᰦᰯᰀᰦᰯ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬᰮᰎᰯᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰜᰦᰳᰡᰨ ,ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬᰮᰎᰯ ᰣᰨᰛᰬ ᰕᰪᰛᰩᰀᰦᰳ, ᰓᰨᰕᰫᰀᰦᰳ, ᰃᰦᰰᰓᰫ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰠᰛᰬᰍᰪᰰ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰋᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰃᰩ ᰛᰧᰳᰶᰡᰨ, ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰙᰴᰠᰦ ᰜᰤᰫᰙᰴ ᰡᰧᰶᰡᰨ, ᰃᰨᰍᰪ ᰚᰶᰊᰤᰬᰳ, ᰀᰠᰪ ᰊᰤᰩᰯ ᰠᰴ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬᰮᰎᰯ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰮ ᰕᰇᰬᰳ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰃᰤᰬᰭ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮᰶᰀᰦ ᰛᰪᰮᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰆᰧᰰᰜᰩᰱ ᰣᰫᰯᰀᰦ ᰠᰦᰢᰨᰊᰩᰱᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰵᰡᰨ.

When I think of the Mahakal temple as it stands today, I imagine it to be a person, a parent figure, an elder to whom all children go and share their joys and sorrows. For as long as I remember most of my friends visit the temple every year on their birthday to seek blessings, and when any important event occurs in their lives.

ᰣᰦᰜᰨᰓᰦ ᰌᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰊᰤᰩᰯᰠᰦ ᰙᰦᰘᰩᰵ ᰀᰦᰜᰬᰮᰎᰪᰵᰜᰩᰮ ᰜᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰬᰮᰎᰯ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰣᰦᰀᰤᰬᰳ-ᰣᰦᰌᰤᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱᰀᰦ ᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ.

Recently a friend’s family came all the way from Kalimpong to offer prayers at the temple for peace and wellbeing in their lives.

ᰌᰦᰲᰈᰫᰜᰤᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰍᰩᰳᰀᰨᰲᰓᰫᰠᰴ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰕᰩᰯᰀᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰓᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰡᰨ, ᰕᰩᰯ ᰣᰨᰛᰬ ᰼ ᰀᰪᰵᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰟᰦᰲ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰨ ᰕ ᰼ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰘᰪᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰟᰦᰲᰙᰴ ᰚᰶᰡᰨ ᰠᰓᰦ, ᰣᰧᰵᰅᰦᰀᰦᰳ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰘᰪ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰍᰩᰳᰜᰩᰮ ᰝᰤᰩᰭᰃᰦᰳᰡᰨ, ᰊᰌᰨ ᰊᰰᰶᰣᰤᰨᰭ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰡᰴ ᰊᰰᰶᰀᰦ.

For the people of Darjeeling and the tourists who visit the place it is a mandatory ritual to take a walk on the Mall, which is a complete circle around the “kaung”. I like to think of it as the circle of life where a child must walk through the journey of life, becoming to realise their purpose.

ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰙᰴᰌᰨ ᰠᰋᰦ ᰕᰪᰛᰩᰀᰦᰳ ᰕᰩᰯ ᰛᰨᰃ᰷ᰥ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰀᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰡᰨ, ᰝᰪ ᰝᰪᰌᰨᰠᰦ ᰣᰦᰕᰤᰫ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰍᰩᰵᰡᰨ ,ᰆᰫᰠᰦ ᰊᰤᰬᰳᰕᰫ, ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰤᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩ, ᰕᰪᰛᰩ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰝᰤᰩᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ, ᰑᰨ ᰋᰦᰮᰓᰧᰭ ᰜᰧᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫᰠᰦ ᰠᰫᰳ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰑᰩᰵᰆᰬᰰᰜᰦᰠᰦ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩ.

In the same manner a person begins their walk on the mall road, and as they walk through it, each of them go through their own holistic experience, the sight of the mountains, valleys, people passing by, some taking a casual stroll, some exercising, some love birds out on a date, some just standing, the sound of birds, crickets, and the sight of greenery.

ᰃᰨᰍᰪᰰ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰕᰩᰯ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰝᰤᰩᰭᰓᰪ ᰍᰩᰰᰓᰫᰠᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰣᰦᰈᰬᰰ ᰚᰨᰕᰨ ᰜᰧᰶᰚᰴ ᰋᰤᰨᰋᰩᰮ ᰕᰉᰧᰰ.

Never have I heard a person say that walking through the mall has been a bad experience.

ᰊᰦᰭᰓᰨᰠᰦ ᰡᰪᰈᰩᰭ ᰣᰦᰀᰨᰲᰀᰦ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰻ᰀᰪᰵ᰻ ᰀᰦ ᰍᰩᰵ ᰕ. ᰝᰪᰌᰨᰮ ᰠᰙᰦᰵᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰘᰨᰜᰳᰶ ᰝᰫᰰ, ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱᰌᰨ ᰟᰤᰬᰳᰡᰴ ᰆᰧᰵᰶ, ᰝᰪᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰜᰧᰶ, ᰠᰋᰦ ᰝᰪ ᰊᰪᰵᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰵ ᰣᰨᰛᰬ ᰝᰥᰩᰰ ᰝᰪᰌᰨᰮ ᰠᰪᰭᰉᰧᰮ ᰃ᰷ᰥᰩᰱ ᰊᰃᰫᰮ ᰜᰧᰶ ᰜᰩᰳᰜᰤᰩᰭ ᰙᰴ ᰅᰫᰰ ᰕ.

On the last day of his visit Takbo went up to the “kaung”, I was eager to learn about his experience. He told me that he felt a strong energy that almost felt like it was calling him as he walked up the stairs to the “kaung” and as he drew closer he had a feeling as though he was returning home after a long time.

ᰊᰦᰭᰓᰨ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰎᰧᰶᰡᰨ ᰼ ᰊᰪᰵᰃ᰷ᰥᰨᰵᰠᰦ ᰍᰝᰦᰰ ᰠᰦᰮ-ᰑᰜᰧᰶ ᰋᰨᰵᰃᰩᰮ ᰀ᰷ᰥᰤᰦᰭᰓᰪ ᰝᰥᰩᰰᰓᰦᰌᰨ ᰃᰤᰩᰮᰀᰩᰰ ᰚᰪᰭᰕᰪᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰟᰧᰮᰀᰩᰰ ᰎᰦᰰᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰳ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰝᰪᰚᰫ ᰓᰬᰭᰀᰦ ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ, ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰊᰗᰳᰶᰀᰦᰜᰦ ᰀᰩᰵᰇᰬᰰᰆᰫ ᰙᰴ ᰣᰦᰊᰩᰮ ᰌᰧᰵᰶᰉᰧᰶᰓᰫ ᰡᰧᰶ ᰕ. ᰃᰨ ᰀᰠᰪ ᰊᰪᰭᰎᰦᰳᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰗᰩᰭᰜᰪᰵ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱ ᰕ. ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰚᰪᰭᰕᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰇᰨ ᰛᰨᰭᰅᰦᰰ ᰕ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰪᰮᰌᰪᰰᰀᰦ ᰎᰦᰰᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰳ ᰀᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ᰇᰨ ᰛᰨᰭᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰃᰨᰌᰨᰠᰪᰮᰜᰦ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰛᰩᰵ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱᰜᰪᰵ.

He writes “the first thing I saw as I climbed a few stairs up was a lama sitting on the right and a pandit on the left and in between were the longchyok, truly a sight to see as these longchyok have survived the test of time standing tall like the mountain Kunchenjunga pouring blessings upon all living beings. I kneeled in front of the longchyok and made an offering of pasangmeto and said my prayers and at that moment there was a lama reciting Buddhist prayers and on the other side the pandit Hindu prayers and there I was in between them reciting Lepcha prayers, just like the three longchyok”.

ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰨ.ᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶ ᰆᰪᰮᰜᰦ ᰋᰫᰱ ᰕ, ᰛᰤᰬᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰠᰦ ᰊᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶᰣᰧᰵᰶ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰮ ᰜᰧᰶᰀᰦ ᰠᰮᰶᰠᰶ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰕ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰦᰚᰫᰮ ᰋᰫᰯ ᰜᰩᰮᰊᰤᰬᰳ ᰜᰤᰶᰀᰦ ᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ . ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰌᰤᰫᰯᰣᰤᰨᰭ ᰜᰩᰮ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰍᰩᰵᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰦᰭᰀᰤᰵᰶ ᰌᰧᰶ ᰕ. ᰊᰦᰭᰓᰨ ᰀᰦᰉᰧᰶᰠᰦ ᰌᰤᰬᰱᰊᰩᰮᰜᰦ ᰣᰦᰛᰤᰫᰮᰅᰫᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩᰀᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰢᰦᰮᰓᰫ ᰠᰦ ᰕᰩᰵᰜᰦ ᰡᰧᰶᰡᰴ ᰈᰬᰵ ᰕ ,ᰊᰌᰨ ᰌᰤᰬᰰᰛᰧᰶ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰋᰤᰦᰭᰊᰩ ᰋᰩᰭᰇᰳᰶ ᰕᰦᰳ ᰜᰪᰵ.

We were also able to meet with Mr. O.D Lepcha and his brother who welcomed us into his home, he came all the way up to receive us. This project has been a very sacred experience in itself, Takbo (as we call him lovingly) and I were able to connect immediately and even began dreaming of being in nature as we set on this sacred journey to affirm our belief and identity.

ᰃᰨ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰠᰪᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰎᰧᰶᰢᰦᰮᰓᰦ, ᰜᰩᰊᰦ ᰜᰴᰣᰦᰱ ᰣᰦᰆᰪᰮ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰍᰩᰰ ᰜᰦᰳ ᰕ. ᰃᰨ ᰣᰨᰋᰦᰓᰦ ᰕᰤᰩᰵ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰡᰫᰕᰦᰳᰍᰪ ᰣᰨᰛᰬᰌᰤᰬᰱ ᰛᰤᰦᰮᰋᰤᰬᰵᰜᰳᰶᰅᰫᰰ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰦᰜᰴ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰮ ᰝᰦᰀᰨ, ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰃᰪᰰᰜᰦ ᰟᰦᰲᰊᰩ ᰜᰩᰮᰌᰨ ᰀᰦᰳ ᰅᰫᰰᰅᰦᰰ ᰉᰧᰶ ᰕ.

As I sit here writing this story, I am yet again reminded of the time I used to be fascinated by those tiny rocks, I could not understand why I was drawn to them as a child, but now I am able to understand that somehow we are all connected and united by nature.

ᰠᰋᰦ ᰀᰦᰚᰫ ᰉᰫᰋᰧᰵᰶᰠᰴ ᰍᰪᰰ ᰼ᰀᰪᰵ᰼ ᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰠᰦᰢᰨᰊᰩᰱ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰼ᰜᰴᰗᰩᰭ᰼ ᰋᰤᰦᰵ, ᰛᰪᰮ-ᰛᰪᰮᰌᰦᰲ ᰠᰴᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰓᰦ ᰓᰦᰮᰓᰨᰣᰨ ᰚᰴᰠᰦ ᰡᰤᰪᰊᰩᰵ ᰕᰦᰳ, ᰝᰪᰚᰫᰍᰪᰰ ᰠᰋᰦᰜᰦ ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰀᰦᰋᰤᰬᰰ ᰀᰪᰵᰀᰦᰳᰀᰦ ᰜᰤᰩᰭᰌᰦ, ᰣᰪᰰ ᰀᰪᰮᰌᰫᰵ ᰕᰧᰃᰧᰳᰠᰦ ᰃᰮᰶᰓᰫ ᰙᰫᰭᰌᰦ ᰚᰴᰠᰦ ᰠᰦᰭᰆᰧᰰ ᰉᰬᰰᰋᰨᰜᰦ ᰕᰉᰧᰰᰋᰨ ᰎᰫ.

When our ancestors who worshipped the “kaung” planted the “lunchyok” and invoked the Gods to reside in them they would have never imagined that one day it would turn into a hill where the church bell rings alongside the bells in the temple above.

ᰊᰫᰠᰩ, ᰃᰨ ᰆᰩᰲᰗ ᰣᰨᰓᰦ ᰜᰩᰮᰢᰦᰮᰓᰦ, ᰊᰃ᰷ᰥᰧᰶ ᰛᰤᰬᰰᰀᰦᰳ ᰓᰦᰍᰫ ᰓᰩᰟᰩᰰ ᰍᰝᰦᰰ ᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰓᰦᰰ ᰋᰫᰯ ᰀᰪᰵᰀᰩᰰ ᰅᰭᰶᰜᰪᰵ ᰊᰌᰨ ᰣᰦᰀᰶᰉᰤᰬᰳ ᰜᰫᰓᰦᰰ ᰠᰮᰶᰌᰧᰵᰶᰜᰩᰮ ᰠᰦᰢᰨ ᰊᰩᰱᰓᰦᰰ ᰍᰝᰦᰰ ᰑᰥᰧᰳ ᰕ. ᰣᰦᰛᰬ ᰣᰦᰊᰤᰰᰶ ᰡᰧᰶᰓᰦ ᰀᰠᰪᰠᰮᰶ ᰛᰤᰫᰌᰧᰵᰶ ᰕ.

Yesterday, I was walking up to the church when I saw a man who stopped in front of the Bhanu Bhawan, he looked up to the hill and raised his hands and whispered a prayer to himself after which he continued to walk towards the crossroad, it was beautiful.

References
Gorer, G 2005, Himalayan Village, Pilgrim Press Pvt. Ltd.
Pinn, F, The Road of Destiny : Darjeeling Letters 1839, Oxford University Press.
Lepcha, S. M, Hamro Dastavej, Samikshya Print’z.
Lepcha, L. T, Christian Mission Among the Lepchas of Eastern Himalayas, ATC Publishers.

Special thanks to our facilitators, Minket Lepcha and Dr Jenny Bentley and our friends and family.

Story by Rachelmit Namphok Lepcha 

Illustrations by Takbothing Tarjokmoo Lepcha &  Mayalmit Lepcha

Translations by Cholamoo Lepcha

Mentored by Minket Lepcha and Jenny Bentley