Sikkim Krantikari Morcha party president PS Golay has made a courtesy visit to Lachen in North Sikkim on Friday.
He was accompanied by acting president and MLA Kunga Nima Lepcha, chief coordinator and MLA Sonam Lama, secretary general Arun Upreti and other senior leaders and members of North District of SKM party.
This was the second visit of the party president to Lachen. Golay was accorded a warm welcome at Mangshila, Mangan and Pegong by party supporters and attended Ningyma Chamm, an annual ritual, at Lachen Monastery. “This auspicious ritual is performed at beginning of the year addressed to the well being of entire universe and seeking divine blessings for the coming year. This is one of the major religious and social events of the valley where residents of Lachen as well as surrounding areas gather to witness the event. The five-day long religious ritual includes two days of Chamm (sacred dance) and today was the concluding day of the divinely Chamm.
The SKM president was specially invited by the local organizers to attend this holy event and Golay expressed his happiness over the hospitality accorded to him by the people of Lachen.
“Today’s visit was purely spiritual and not for political mileage but to keep my prayers in Holy Lachen Monastery as well as to meet people of North District. North Sikkim has huge potential of eco-tourism, nature tourism, religious tourism and adventures tourism which needs to be taken care with ultimate priority. There are many infrastructural developments which need to be developed, upcoming SKM government will give priority on development of North Sikkim,” Golay said.
The one day tour ended with a colourful ritual chamm performed by venerable monks and locals of Lachen valley which was warmly witnessed by team SKM. Later, president also offered prayers at holy monastery located at Lachen for well-being of humankind and also remembered and offered his tribute to divine soul of His Holiness Lachen Gomchen Rinpoche. This was for the first time that any opposition leader was warmly welcomed by the organizers of the annual holy ritual.