(About the author:)

Commonly, mankind since time immemorial has been worshipping the forces of nature. And it is only human beings that can understand the value of nature’s gifts, accept them and be enlightened by them.

At a glance, our ancestors who have been worshipping deities and ghosts and spirits on different occasions and festivals, have been successful in bringing the people from a society in unity and togetherness.

Even today we can hear tales of these customs, especially being held in rural places. Different seasons and harvests from these places organize festivities and rituals, including fun and celebrations with them. As a result of which, thousands of physical and mental difficulties seem to decrease making life fun and harmonized.

Similarly, Rankey Mela of Namchi is also one of the festivals of harvest.

The Tales Behind The Celebration of Rankey Mela

Rankey Mela of Namchi has similarities with many festivals across the Nation. Bihu of Assam, Pongol of Tamil Nadu, Kerela and Karnataka, Baisakhi of Punjab, Haryana, are some of the similar festivals.

Rankey Mela has the significance of sewing monsoon crops like – maize, cucumber, pumpkin, chilli, tomatoes, pears, pomegranates, etc, in the thread or rope made from ‘babiyo’ in every household. Families hang them in the main door of their houses, and sacred places of household, and get together for rituals and feast during Rankey Mela. The mother of the house lashes the bark of ‘kurilo’ at the fireplace chanting, “Upiya ja, rupiya aija”, meaning “away with fleas, in with fortune”. While the father of the house takes the burning wood from the fireplace and throws it from the rooftop chants “anikal laija, sahakal ley hai,” meaning “Take away the famine, bring back the harvest”. The family then chases away ‘Rankey Bhoot’ while beating nanglo. After which the family dine together and go to sleep.

The next day, everyone is restricted from entering the fields and farms in the name of Rankey. Which is customary to follow for a village. However on that day, the people collect themselves and organize mela – a fest, and organize various games and sports. The start of this tradition in Namchi can be traced back to as early as the eighteenth century.

Glimpses Of The Modern-day Rankey Mela of Namchi

It is said that on this day, all the utilities and tools of the household like grinders, crushers, and other materials are loosened and taken outside and they are given a holiday. That day, marketplaces are filled by the locals. It is rhetorically said that on this day, even simpletons eat and enjoy their fill. Until the 1980s, the wooden Ferris wheel was built in the Southeast direction of Namchi town. Young men and women were seen flocking around them. But they are not seen these days.

However, the legacy of picking lanterns from 35-foot tall, greased bamboo (bhalubaas) has continued to this day as a main attraction of Rankey Mela. The memories of Namchi of the old days become anew when all the modern-day technologies are replaced by old haat, folk cultures and rural sports. And among them is the burning of Rankey Bhoot (an effigy of rankey demon) in the evening. It brings together the living legends of old times too. The modern-day plays of LailaMajnu, Romeo and Juliet, bring the old customs and modernity on a single platform.

Among the spectators are the young men and women, children and old folks from all the nearby villages.

The Relation Between Sauney Sankranti and Rankey Festival: a folklore

Let us understand the relation between Sauney Sankranti (Sankranti of July month) and the festival of Rankey (also celebrated in July) with a tale passed down from our predecessors.

In a certain village in the hills of Nepal Kingdom, on a certain evening of Sauney Sankranti, a group of villagers entered the farms, after being drunk and feasted. The drunken villagers started having commotion upon the water channels catering water to their fields. The commotion took the shape of fighting between these villagers and killed each other. The souls of these dead men started causing trouble in the village, and because of this, the villagers started the custom of chasing away the Rankey. The villagers believed that the kalfokey in maize, decaying plants, and unfruitfulness in them were caused by the rankey.

Although science explains it differently, the truth is, that the celebration of rankey started from these tales.

Rankey Celebration in Namchi: from Solophok to Namchi

Even though Rankey is celebrated in Namchi town today, initially it was celebrated in Solophok, which is about four kilometers uphill from Namchi. Later, with special consideration to the wild animals and plants, the celebration was brought down to Purano Namchi by the people. Still later, because the people from villages around Namchi Bajar started finding the present-day Namchi town to be more favorable for everyday markets.

Therefore, the celebration of Rankey eventually started being held here itself.Rankey Mela has also been celebrated for some time in Ravangla South Sikkim and Kaluk West Sikkim, too, since the year of 1915.

Although the scientific reasons say that it is some old narratives and superstitious beliefs, Namchi Rankey Mela festivals have played the role of nurturing communities, by simplifying the harshness of the time and making life livable.

The author believes that it is everybody’s responsibility to protect and conserve such festivals, and hopes that all those who celebrate Rankey Mela will do so with the preservation of these truths.