Namchi, January 21: The spiritual ambience of the 71st Maghey Sankranti Mela 2026 reached another high point on Tuesday evening as the 8th Sandhya Aarati (Evening Prayer) was solemnly performed at the sacred confluence of the Rangeet and Rammam rivers. The devotional ceremony, one of the major religious attractions of the week-long festival, witnessed the participation of hundreds of devotees, officials, and community leaders.
The Sandhya Aarati was led by Madan Cintury, MLA and Chief Patron of the Maghey Sankranti Mela, who was accompanied by his spouse, Sashi Kala Gadaily. Together, they offered prayers and lit ceremonial lamps, invoking peace, prosperity, and well-being for the people of Sikkim and the nation.
The ceremony was attended by several senior government officials and dignitaries, including Dhiraj Subedi, Deputy Commissioner of Soreng; Bishal Mukhia, Director of the State Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PR); Yogen Syangden, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Jorethang; Wangyal Sherpa, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Namchi; and Tara Sharma, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Mangalbaria. Other government officials, public representatives, community leaders, members of social organisations, and a large gathering of devotees also participated in the evening prayers.
As dusk settled over the confluence, the riverbanks came alive with the glow of hundreds of oil lamps. Devotees offered prayers with folded hands while chanting sacred hymns and bhajans, creating a serene and spiritually uplifting atmosphere. The rhythmic sound of bells, devotional music, and the collective prayers of the faithful added to the significance of the ceremony, reinforcing the deep cultural and religious traditions associated with the Maghey Sankranti festival.
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The Sandhya Aarati has emerged as one of the defining spiritual highlights of the annual Maghey Sankranti Mela. Organised every evening at the holy confluence, the ceremony is facilitated by different social and religious organisations, reflecting the collective spirit and communal harmony that characterise the festival. The eighth evening's programme was jointly organised by the Sikkim Vaisya Samaj and the Bihari Jagaran Manch, Jorethang, whose members coordinated the rituals and ensured the smooth conduct of the event.
Organisers informed that the final Sandhya Aarati will be held on the evening of January 22, coinciding with the concluding day of the 71st Maghey Sankranti Mela. The closing ceremony is expected to draw an even larger gathering of devotees and visitors, bringing the week-long religious and cultural celebrations to a meaningful and memorable conclusion while reaffirming the festival's enduring significance in Sikkim's cultural and spiritual heritage.
