A file picture of offerings made by monks at the “statue of unity” in Gangtok during Pang Lhabsol festival

Gangtok, Aug. 10: Various indigenous communities in Sikkim will gather at Rabong during the 14-day Pang Lhabsol festival, an occasion to show the world the state’s cultural diversity.

The celebrations are held to pay obeisance to Mount Kanchenjungha, the guardian deity of Sikkim and the common thread of the communal harmony in the state.

With the festival entering its 27th year, the organising committee is on a creative streak to add more attractions to the celebration, while maintaining the traditional ethos of the event.

The festival kicks off on August 11 and ends on the 24th.

“Pang Lhabsol has been traditionally an event which depicts the communal harmony in Sikkim since the time of the monarchy. We will continue to maintain this aspect with full enthusiasm and representatives of all communities will be participating in the celebration to showcase their cultural dances, food and costumes,” said K.N. Rai, a former minister and a patron of the organising committee.

Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutias are the indigenous communities of Sikkim.

The festivities will start on August 11 with the commencement of a constituency-level volleyball tournament organised by the state sports department.

Rabong, located 65km from Gangtok and at an altitude of 2,139 metres, has been an annual venue for the national level volleyball tournament. But this time, the organisers are inviting only seven North-east states.

Rabong subdivisional magistrate Dushyant Pariyar, who is also the chairman of the organising committee, said the festivities would be spread across the subdivision this year.

“Earlier, the programmes used to be concentrated at Mani Choekerling complex only. But this time, we have arranged for festivities all over the town and other places like Temi, Yanyang and Sikkip under the Rabong subdivision,” said Pariyar.

He added that a Thai Expo would be the main attraction of the event. “Fifteen delegates from Thailand representing various sectors like hospitality and horticulture will be setting up their stalls at Rabong for the festival. They will also hold a Thai food festival,” said Pariyar.

Other attractions of the event are ethnic food stalls and exhibits of indigenous communities. “Visitors can stroll around the town to sample the local delicacies and buy traditional items as souvenirs,” said Pariyar.

Apart from rural sports and musical evenings, the staple attraction of the festival is the famed pangtoed dance performed by monks on August 24, the day of the Pang Lhabsol.

Traditionally, pangtoed chaam or the warrior dance holds centre stage, which people here believe was choreographed from a dream by Chakdor Namgyal, the fourth Chogyal.

With Pang Lhabsol being synonymous with nature and its worship, the organisers have decided to integrate the festival with tourism also.

“We are integrating Pang Lhabsol festival with monsoon tourism concept and have tied up with the state tourism department and other stakeholders to promote the event,” said Rai.