Chyoo Rum Faat at Mamring, Sittong

One of the most important Lepcha cultural and traditional festivals, Chyoo Rum Faat, prayers and offerings to the Himalayas and Mt Kanchanjunga  took place at Mamring, Sittong, Kurseong Sub-Division, on 12 October 2013.

The original indigenous Lepchas firmly believe that their first man, Foodaong Thing, and the first woman,Nazaong Nyoo, originated from Kingtsoomzaongboo, i.e Mt Kanchanjanga in Lepcha.  Their offsprings, the Lepchas spread and settled at the foot hills of the mountain.  Mt Kanchanjunga is, therefore, sacred and holy to the Lepchas and it is their Deity.  The Lepchas believe that their souls will return to the Himalayas after death. The  Chyoo Rum Faat ceremony takes place when the  fresh snowfall is being experienced in the Himalayas. The Lepcha priests from Mamring and Kalimpong conducted the prayers and offerings to the sacred Himalayas. The Lepcha Association, Sittong II comprising the following Lepcha villages organized the Chyoo Rum Faat:

      Mamring, Bordaang, Turyaok and Daang

It is good to report that thirteen different Lepcha Association Branches of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Assocoation, Headquarters Kalimpong participated in the function.  The newly elected President of ILTA,Ren Dorjee T. Lepcha himself was present on the occasion.  It was a huge Lepcha cultural function.

The Chief Guest of the day, Chairman, Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board,Headquarters Kalimpong in his address stressed on the importance of promoting the very rich and ancient Lepcha culture.  He congratulated Ren Naku Lepcha, the President, Lepcha Association, Sittong II and his associates for organizing and promoting the Lepcha culture for posterity.  He then presented the Lepcha Association. Sittong II with a sum of Rs 10,000.00 (Rupees ten thousand ) only towards the Lepcha cultural function. This was the first monetary contribution towards the preservation and promotion of the Lepcha culture from the Mayel Lyang Development Board.

Many Lepcha youths and children from different parts of the Darjeeling Hills presented their Lepcha cultural programmes on the day.  Chyoo Rum Faat at Mamring, Sittong was a   complete success.
                                    A Staff Reporter

When the white missionaries came to Africa,
    they had the Bible and we had the land.
    They said “Let us pray”. We closed our eyes-.
when we opened them we had the Bible and  
they had the land.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu