Naamsoong

Khamri to all

The Naamsoong is around the corner and i guess all of us are by now packing our bags, hunting for tickets to reach home to be together with our families for this important festival.

Those who do not know about Naamsoong or Naambun, this is the story behind it. Its a festival commemorating the defeat of Laso Mung Punu (who was tormenting the innocent lepcha people ) by Azor Bongthing in Sukvyer Purtaam, believed to be located in Dzongu. Its a Lepcha New year and the First day (chyo kaat) starts from the next day of the Defeat of Laso Mung Punu. In fact to this day many lepcha people still burn an effigy of the Laso Mung Punu on the last day of the previous year (Tengrigyong sonap).

Its the period of Psychological rejuvenation after a year long hard work and suffering to make every day worth living. So on this new year eve the lepchas throw away all the burden of pain misery and look forward optimistically to a new year with hopes of happier and joyful days.......AACCHHUULEY

the newly harvested rice and the pig fattened for a year or more, the new clothes and relatives coming down for annual visits. the distant aneus and akus, botims and motims, nyukungs and thyukungs.....all with their blessing and jests. the richly fermented CHEE, the laughter and joy and of course bad hangovers,......hahahaha thats NAAMSUNG or NAAMBUn