A Sacred Call

In the quiet mountains of Sikkim, a spiritual wisdom and legacy that has quietly guided the Lepcha community for centuries is at risk of fading into oblivion. It’s a way of life where every tree, river, mountain, and storm are seen as sacred — not just part of nature, but as a living force to be respected and revered. At the heart of this tradition are the Mun and Bongthing, the spiritual healers and priests who’ve long been the soul of Lepcha culture. They are more than religious figures — they are storytellers, environmental guardians, herbal healers, and keepers of ancient knowledge passed down through generations.

A recent symposium titled ‘Lepcha Mun and Bongthing: Tracing Their Ancient Spiritual Routes’, organised by the Department of Culture and Renjyong Mutanchi Ringmom Kurmom, was an important step in bringing attention to their legacy. The number of practicing Mun and Bongthing has been steadily falling. Modern education, urbanisation, and changing lifestyles are pulling younger generations away from their roots. Many no longer see the relevance of traditions that once shaped their identity and guided their way of life.

But here’s the thing — these traditions are still deeply relevant. The Mun and Bongthing are custodians of something irreplaceable. They hold the community’s collective memory, understand nature’s rhythms, and offer healing not just of the body, but of the spirit. Their rituals are vital connections to ancestry, to place, to purpose. And they hold answers to some of today’s challenges too — from mental well-being to environmental conservation.

What we often forget is that culture isn’t just what we build — it’s also what we carry inside us. Temples and museums matter, yes. But so do chants, stories, songs, healing practices, and the quiet knowledge of how to live well with the world around us. That’s what’s at risk of being lost if we don’t act. Not just for the Lepcha community, but for all of us who need to remember how to live in balance with nature.

Preserving these traditions doesn’t mean freezing them in time. It means giving them space to breathe, to grow, to be passed on — with pride. It means making sure a new generation can walk with one foot in the future and the other firmly rooted in their past. The Mun and Bongthing still have much to teach us. But only if we choose to listen — before the silence of forgetting drowns out their wisdom for good.