Revising legacy of Subash Ghisingh, GNLF observes Bonbo festival at Darjeeling Chowrasta

EOI, DARJEELING, AUGUST 31, 2023 : The Gorkha National Liberation Front on Thursday observed the Bonbo festival, a festival of the hills shamans (ojha), with a programme organized at Chowrasta in Darjeeling. GNLF leader Subash Ghisingh started observing this festival in the year 1993 to show that people in the hills were bonbo worshippers (people who consider stones, rivers and trees as their deity). 

Ghisingh wanted to show the government that people in the hills were tribal and accordingly the Darjeeling hills should be declared a sixth schedule area under the Constitution. This would have ensured additional powers, both constitutional and financial, for the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. 

“This tradition was started by my father Subash Ghisingh and since then we have been observing it. This year we wanted to do in a grand way," said Mann Ghisingh, president, GNLF. Compared to previous years, this time round many more people were seen participating in rallies which converged on the Chowrasta from different parts of Darjeeling. 

The main reason why the jhakris (shamans) today perform the ritual of dancing and going to temples is that they are said to retire in to caves at the start of the monsoon season and come out on Guru Purnima which falls today. 

On this day, “pitri puja” (worshipping the forefathers) is also offered for the well-being of the departed souls. Shamans and witch doctors were on Thursday seen taking out a rally dancing to the tunes of their drums till Chowrasta where they also visited the Mahakal temple. In the event organized by the GNLF under the banner of Rashtriya Gorkha Bonbo Mahotsav Samiti, the shamans were also shown respect by Darjeeling MLA Neeraz Zimba who offered them with shawls. 

"This ritual is being followed when our ancestors were there. Bonbo religion is older than many religions and predates Subash Ghisingh. It was however due to him that the festival was started to be held formally," said Zimba. When asked about this festival's connection with Sixth Schedule, Zimba said, 

"The issue of Sixth Schedule and this festival is different. However, we have no objection if it is implemented.”.