Sikkim communities hold sacred purification ritual after Khangchendzonga expedition

Indigenous groups across Sikkim have conducted an urgent purification ceremony following a recent climbing expedition to Mount Khangchendzonga, seeking divine forgiveness for what they consider a spiritual violation of their most sacred peak.

The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), the Sikkim Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (SILTA), and concerned citizens organised the special ritual after mountaineers ascended the revered summit, which local communities regard not as mere rock and ice, but as a living deity and divine guardian.

The ceremony reflects centuries-old beliefs rooted in 8th-century Buddhist traditions, when Guru Padmasambhava first designated Mount Khangchendzonga and other peaks as protective deities for the Himalayan region.

SD Tshering, Advisor to SIBLAC, explained the historical significance behind the emergency purification. "Just to understand the background of this puja, you'll have to quite a little bit understand the history of Sikkim. In the 8th century, when Guru Padmasambhava came to Sikkim, he found this place very suitable for dharma," he said.

The revered Buddhist master had foreseen Sikkim as a sanctuary where dharma could survive even if it disappeared elsewhere. To protect this sacred land, he appointed guardian deities known as Ghajin deities, including Khangchendzonga, Yabdi, and Pauhungri.

"These deities were not chosen casually," Tshering emphasised. "They were meant to be protectors—not just of the physical land, but of the people, the culture, and the spiritual energy of Sikkim. And we in Sikkim have great belief in these Ghajin deities. We have always taken them as our protector in all circumstances."

The recent expedition has disrupted this divine protection, according to community leaders. "Kanchenjunga is not just a mountain. It is a Ghajin deity, a guardian spirit. Anyone climbing on that is against our religion," Tshering stated. "Since it has already been desecrated, now we want to purify it."

The purification ritual followed a structured three-phase approach designed to restore spiritual balance. The first stage involved seeking forgiveness from guardian deities for environmental disturbances, including tree cutting and the sacred mountain's desecration. The second phase requested continued divine protection for Sikkim and its inhabitants, while the third sought blessings to prevent future misfortunes.

"This puja, although conducted according to Buddhist tradition, is not limited to Buddhists," Tshering clarified. "It is for all the Sikkimese people. We are asking for protection for all, regardless of their religion, caste, or community. The land belongs to everyone, and so does the protection."

Mayalmit Lepcha, President of SILTA, highlighted the profound spiritual bond between the Lepcha community and Mount Khangchendzonga. "Since I belong to the Lepcha community, we have a deep belief that we've been created from a pure snowball of Kanchenjunga," she said. "So for us, Kanchenju, which is known as Kanchenjunga, is a very, very sacred mountain."

The community believes that climbing activities contaminate the peak's spiritual purity. "When an expedition takes place and people walk on it, we believe it gets dirty," Lepcha explained. "And if sacred mountains, rivers, and lakes are defiled, we believe that it brings harm."

This harm manifests both directly through floods, famines, and illnesses, and indirectly through unseen misfortunes affecting people and the environment in invisible ways.

"Today, we did this puja to ask for forgiveness. Whether the mistake was done knowingly or unknowingly, we are saying sorry. And this puja is not just for the Lepcha community—it is for all people living in Sikkim," she said.

Lepcha issued a broader appeal to the state's religious communities: "I request that every temple, every monastery, and everyone in Sikkim should do this forgiveness puja. Wherever you live in Sikkim, please do this. It is important for all of us."

The spiritual significance of Mount Khangchendzonga extends beyond religious beliefs to Sikkim's foundational history. The sacred site of Kabi Lungchok, located 17 kilometres north of Gangtok, witnessed the historic Treaty of Blood Brotherhood between Lepcha chief Thekong Tek and Tibetan prince Khye Bumsa.

During this ceremony, both leaders installed stones and bound them with animal intestines, swearing brotherhood and peace with Mount Khangchendzonga serving as divine witness. This treaty established the unity between Lepcha and Bhutia communities that continues to define Sikkim's cultural landscape.