Minister Bhim Hang Limboo Graces Concluding Day of Kokfekwa Tongnam 2026 at Lingchom
Gyalshing, January 15 (IPR):The concluding day of the 8th Kokfekwa Tongnam Celebration 2026, the annual Limboo New Year festival, was celebrated today with great traditional fervour and cultural enthusiasm at Lingchom under Gyalshing District. The two-day festival reflected the rich cultural heritage, indigenous traditions and time-honoured customs of the Limboo community. The event was jointly organised by the Limboo community of Lingchom, Tikjeck and Langang.
The concluding day of the celebration was graced by the Minister for Buildings and Housing and Labour Departments, Government of Sikkim, Mr Bhim Hang Limboo as the Chief Guest, along with MLA (Maneybong–Dentam)-cum-Advisor Mr Sudesh Kumar Subba and Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) Dr Indra Hang Subba as the Guests of Honour.
The day began with a vibrant cultural parade paying tribute to Padma Shri BB Muringla, which was flagged off by the Chief Guest along with the Guests of Honour and other dignitaries, and later received at Lingchom. The parade marked one of the key highlights of the celebration.
Thereafter, the dignitaries visited Kokfekwa Valley, where they interacted with participants and inspected stalls showcasing indigenous food items, handicrafts and traditional artefacts.
During the main programme, ceremonial prayers at the Mangheem were offered, followed by traditional Kokfekwa Tongnam prayers performed by Phedangba (traditional priests), invoking peace, prosperity and harmony. Colourful cultural performances, including welcome dances by Lingchom and Tikjeck groups, Lasori song, Hakpare, Khyali and Tamrangey dances, added vibrancy to the occasion. The vision and significance of Kokfekwa Tongnam were highlighted by Mr Suban Limboo, General Secretary (Organising Committee), who emphasised the importance of preserving Limboo traditions, culture and indigenous identity.
The OSD, Culture Department, Mr SP Mangyung, delivered an insightful presentation on the life and legacy of Padma Shri BB Muringla, describing him as one of the most prominent cultural figures of the region. He highlighted Muringla’s invaluable contributions towards the promotion, preservation and strengthening of Limboo culture, for which he received several national-level recognitions, making him an enduring source of inspiration for society.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, extended warm greetings to the people of the state on the auspicious occasion of Kokfekwa Tongnam. He highlighted the importance of safeguarding indigenous culture, language and traditions and commended the community for preserving its rich cultural legacy through such celebrations. He stated that cultural identity formed the foundation of social harmony and unity and called upon the younger generation to remain rooted in their traditions while progressing through education and development.
The Minister further highlighted that under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister Mr PS Tamang (Golay), every community in the State had been safeguarded and supported. Recalling the recent Chasok Tongnam celebration at Saramsa Garden, he mentioned the Chief Minister’s assurance regarding reservation of the LT seat. He stated that community development had been a key focus of the Government, which had revived and restored traditions and customs of all communities through such cultural initiatives. He conveyed New Year greetings and expressed gratitude to the organising committee for the successful conduct of the event, assuring continued Government support for cultural preservation, promotion of indigenous knowledge systems and community welfare.
While addressing the gathering, District Collector, Gyalshing, conveyed his greetings and stated that the Limboo community possessed a rich cultural heritage that must be collectively practised and passed on to future generations. He paid tribute to the immense contribution of Padma Shri BB Muringla in uplifting the community and society, and expressed appreciation to the organising committee for successfully hosting the celebration.
During the programme, the annual Kokfekwa Tongnam Calendar was released by Mr Suhang Subba. A book titled “TA-JENJI SAPPON”, a conversational book in the Limboo language authored and published by Mr KB Limboo, was also released on the occasion.
The celebration served as an important platform for promoting Limboo cultural heritage, rural tourism and community bonding. Emphasis was laid on the preservation and promotion of traditional rites and rituals, along with Limboo Mundhum, the sacred oral texts forming the spiritual and philosophical foundation of the Limboo community. To encourage cultural tourism, camping sites were arranged for visitors, offering an opportunity to experience the indigenous lifestyle, cultural ethos and natural landscape of the region.
Several traditional practices that were gradually declining due to modernisation were authentically recreated and showcased to raise awareness and ensure their continuity. These included live demonstrations of the traditional maize grinder (Jato), paddy straw mat weaving (Gundri), preparation of traditional distilled alcohol (Raksi) and making of sitting mats (Pira) from natural fibres (Khoshyala). Once integral to rural life, these practices are increasingly being replaced by modern alternatives. Their revival demonstrated the community’s collective effort to preserve ancestral knowledge systems and safeguard intangible cultural heritage.
Among those present were Advisor (Press and Media) to the Chief Minister Mr Birendra Tamling, Up-Adhaksha(GDZP) Gyalshing Ms Anita Rai,Advisor (Commerce and Industries) Mr SM Subba, Advisor (State Medicinal Plant Board) Mr NB Limboo, Chairman RDD Mr Narayan Khatiwada, Chairman SABBCO Mr JB Subba, Chairman Roads and Bridges Mr BM Subba and District Collector Gyalshing Mr Tenzing D Denzongpa, APS to CM Mr Madhusudan Sharma along with OSDs, Heads of Departments of various line departments, elders, cultural practitioners, youth and a large gathering of community members.
The evening session featured traditional performances such as Palam and Khyali, followed by Yarak (Dhan Nach) performed with the distinctive Kay/Chyabrung. The celebration culminated with folk narration and Kay Pokma Mundhum by Mr Den Hang Limboo, cultural performances by Mr Chandra Hang Limboo, Mr Aita Hang Limboo and Namoti from Yuksom, and musical performances by Manish and the Hooligans (Pakyong) and Sound of Soul (Darjeeling), bringing the two-day festival to a vibrant close.
Report from DIO Gyalshing