Gyalshing, Jan 15: The 8th Kokfekwa Tongnam Celebration 2026, the annual Limboo New Year festival, concluded on Thursday at Lingchom with vibrant traditional fervour and cultural enthusiasm. The two-day festival reflected the rich indigenous heritage, customs and identity of the Limboo community and was jointly organised by the Limboo community of Lingchom, Tikjeck and Langang.
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| Bhim Hang Limboo, Minister for Buildings and Housing and Labour Departments with the Organisers |
The concluding day was graced by Bhim Hang Limboo, Minister for Buildings and Housing and Labour Departments, Government of Sikkim, as Chief Guest. Sudesh Kumar Subba, MLA (Maneybong–Dentam)-cum-Advisor, and Indra Hang Subba, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), attended as Guests of Honour.
The day began with a colourful cultural parade paying tribute to BB Muringla, Padma Shri awardee, which was flagged off by the dignitaries and later received at Lingchom. The parade emerged as a key highlight of the celebration. The dignitaries also visited Kokfekwa Valley, interacting with participants and inspecting stalls showcasing indigenous food, handicrafts and traditional artefacts.
Ceremonial prayers at the Mangheem were offered, followed by traditional Kokfekwa Tongnam prayers conducted by Phedangba (traditional priests), invoking peace, prosperity and harmony. Colourful cultural performances—including welcome dances by Lingchom and Tikjeck groups, Lasori songs, and Hakpare, Khyali and Tamrangey dances—added vibrancy to the programme. Suban Limboo, General Secretary of the Organising Committee, highlighted the vision and significance of Kokfekwa Tongnam, stressing the need to preserve Limboo traditions, culture and indigenous identity.
An insightful presentation on the life and legacy of Padma Shri BB Muringla was delivered by SP Mangyung, OSD, Culture Department, who highlighted Muringla’s invaluable contributions to the promotion and preservation of Limboo culture and his national-level recognitions.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Bhim Hang Limboo extended New Year greetings and underscored the importance of safeguarding indigenous culture, language and traditions. He commended the Limboo community for preserving its cultural legacy and urged the younger generation to remain rooted in tradition while pursuing education and development. He said that under the leadership of Prem Singh Tamang, the state government has focused on protecting and promoting the traditions of all communities, assuring continued support for cultural preservation and community welfare.
The District Collector of Gyalshing conveyed greetings and paid tribute to BB Muringla’s contribution to society, while appreciating the organising committee for successfully hosting the celebration. During the programme, the annual Kokfekwa Tongnam Calendar was released by Suhang Subba, and a Limboo-language conversational book titled “TA-JENJI SAPPON” authored by KB Limboo was also released.
The festival served as a platform to promote Limboo cultural heritage, rural tourism and community bonding, with emphasis on preserving Limboo Mundhum, the sacred oral texts of the community. Traditional practices such as maize grinding (Jato), paddy straw mat weaving (Gundri), preparation of traditional distilled alcohol (Raksi), and making of sitting mats (Pira) were authentically recreated to ensure continuity of ancestral knowledge.
The evening session featured traditional performances including Palam and Khyali, followed by Yarak (Dhan Nach) accompanied by the distinctive Kay/Chyabrung. The celebration concluded with folk narration and Kay Pokma Mundhum by Den Hang Limboo, cultural performances by Chandra Hang Limboo, 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.
