NESOL | Bhutia-Lepcha Festival | 13th Sept, ‘24 | Prayer to Mt. Kangchenzonga | Sikkim

The Nesol is a distinct and important ritual in Sikkim. The term Nesol can be translated as "Propitiation Prayer to the Sacred Landscape," and in the course of this prayer, all of the powerful deities and forces resident in Sikkim are named and presented with offerings. This is a very important ritual tradition, as it recognizes how significant our land and the more-than-human forces who live within it are for the wellbeing of all the humans who live in Sikkim.

The torma, or ritual offering, that was made for this occasion represents Kanchendzonga, the chief guardian deity of Sikkim, and the deities and powerful places that make up his retinue. The propitiation of Kanchendzonga goes back to before the arrival of Buddhism in Sikkim, when the Rong or Lepcha people, the first people of Sikkim, propitiated Kanchendzonga, or Kongchen Konglo, as a member of their kin. When Buddhism came to Sikkim, Buddhists continued this ritual relationship, and Nesol also acknowledges this kinship, while asking Kanchendzonga and the other beings around him to protect the people and land of Sikkim, and to continue to provide abundance. Part of the prayer asks for the rain to fall on time and water to be clean and clear. Without our land, we cannot survive, and this ritual tradition takes time to recognize this.

Nesol is done in Sikkim every month, but the major ritual enactment that includes this torma takes place just before Pang Lhabsol. Pang Lhabsol is actually part of Nesol and includes a ritual dance. In this celebration, the people of Sikkim acknowledge the importance of Kanchendzonga for bringing the Lepcha and Bhutia people together in a collaborative kinship that is often referred to as a blood brotherhood. The Nesol that I have included here was sponsored by my family this year in our village. Every year a different household has the honour of undertaking this. It is a lot of work, but an opportunity to bring the community together while acknowledging the land. The torma cake that you see was taken and distributed to people in the village, and particularly the main torma of Kanchendznga was given to the person who will host the ritual next year.

We are so fortunate to have this time to acknowledge the beautiful land and water around us and also our relationships and respect across different communities. May Kanchendzonga and all the other more-than-human beings in our land stay strong and healthy!