River Rangbhang and the Bamboo bush place
“My place is mainly covered by the bushes of Bamboo and it is named after that in Lepcha Language. The land is blessed and home to many lives.”
Lakit Lepcha
“ᰀᰠᰪ ᰓᰦᰮᰜᰤᰦᰵᰌᰨᰛᰬ ᰎᰨᰟᰩᰵ ᰎᰴᰍᰪ ᰟᰨᰲᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦᰳᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰣᰶᰛᰤᰬᰮ ᰛᰩᰵᰛᰧᰵᰶᰜᰩᰮ ᰣᰦᰓᰥᰤᰦᰵ ᰋᰧᰭᰋᰩᰮᰓᰫᰜᰦ ᰃᰪᰮ. ᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰦᰛᰬᰌᰨ ᰃᰤᰦᰱᰕᰫ ᰜᰧᰶᰕᰫᰠᰴᰠᰦ ᰓᰦᰮᰜᰤᰦᰵ ᰣᰪᰰ ᰆᰧᰰᰜᰩᰱ ᰋᰫᰱᰋᰨᰓᰫ ᰜᰤᰦᰵᰀᰦᰳ ᰃᰪᰮ.” ᰜᰦᰀᰧᰳ ᰜᰬᰱᰆᰦ
Knowledge Keepers behind the expression
“I went to different people and talked with them. I asked the local villagers about my place. I went to the rivers and streams, different farmlands, neighbour’s and cousin’s houses. I talked to my grandfather, he told me many things
about the place and my ancestors. My cousins brothers and sisters helped me who are around the age of 20. Place has a very tranquil environment. The weather is a little warmer. People are very helpful and interactive. The land is
filled with different plants, birds and animals. Birds singing add to the peace of the village. Place has a pleasant smell of village and village things like the smell of soil, farmlands, sheds, village food and beverages etc.”
Lakit Lepcha
“It was fun doing this project. Besides, I learnt so many things. In this modern world people are forgetting about their culture and customs, they are less interested in their ancestors which is not good. This work gave me an opportunity to explore my origin, ancestors, our culture and customs. I learnt so many things about my place, people, their ways of living, their practice and belief, rivers nearby etc.
I had faced some challenges. Though the people here in the village are peace loving, helpful people, still they do not want to disclose certain things about their cultures, customs, deities, etc., they think that some other people may disrespect their beliefs, such that their culture and belief may get contaminated. Some people whom I asked were busy due to their work, etc. The climatic condition here also became a little challenging.
I had to insist on them a lot and requested a lot from them, such that they could share information. I got involved in their work. I found that they have very interesting and sacred stories kept sacred among themselves. Some stories were a little obsessive while some were quite interesting. I learnt that these people are very good at keeping their culture and believe safe, far from contamination of foreign interference.” Lakit Lepcha
Video by Lakit Lepcha
Art by Karma Tshering Lepcha
Mentored by my Aakhu Andrew Lepcha & Minket Lepcha