Indigenous communities in Sikkim held a sacred purification ritual following a recent expedition to Mount Khangchendzonga—an act they view as a violation of their most sacred guardian deity. The emergency puja, conducted on June 15, was led by the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), the Sikkim Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (SILTA), and concerned citizens across the state.The ritual, rooted in 8th-century Buddhist beliefs, sought forgiveness from the divine protectors of Sikkim for what the communities described as a spiritual desecration of Mount Khangchendzonga. Revered not as a mere mountain but as a “Ghajin” deity, Khangchendzonga holds immense religious and cultural importance for both the Bhutia and Lepcha people.
“Kanchenjunga is not just a mountain—it is a protector of our land and spirit,” said SD Tshering, advisor to SIBLAC. “Guru Padmasambhava declared Sikkim a safe haven for dharma and appointed these peaks as guardians. Climbing the mountain disturbs this sacred balance.” The purification ceremony followed a structured three-phase process: seeking divine forgiveness for the mountain’s desecration, asking for continued protection, and praying to avert future calamities. “We are not doing this only for Buddhists. This land belongs to everyone in Sikkim, and so does its protection,” Tshering explained.
Mayalmit Lepcha, President of SILTA, emphasized the deep spiritual link between the Lepcha people and the mountain. “We believe we were born from a snowball of Kanchenjunga. So for us, any expedition on the mountain is a direct insult to our origin and spirituality.” According to her, such disturbances could bring both visible disasters—like floods and illness—and unseen misfortunes affecting the state’s peace and wellbeing. “This puja is an apology on behalf of all Sikkimese. It doesn’t matter who climbed it. We all must ask for forgiveness.”