Mayalmit Lepcha standing on the confluence of the Teesta and Rongyong rivers

View of the Majestic Mount Kanchendzonga from Lingthem village, Upper Dzongu

Mayalmit’s sketch of the completed and proposed hydropower projects on River Teesta and Rongyong

Protest against Teesta Stage IV hydropower project Credit: Soumik Datta

Crack on road in Hee Gyathang Gram Panchayat after a recent landslide in 2022

Focused group discussion with Sangha of Dzongu

Kunzang is a young mun priest from Hee Gyathang Village in Lower Dzongu

Altar at the house of Ren Likden Rongkup

Buddhist monk Ren Likdem Rongkup praying at the Passingdang monastery in Upper Dzongu. (Credit: Nikhil Roshan, source: Vikalp Sangam)

The sacred Tungkyong Dho lake in Hee Gyeethang GPU, Lower Dzongu

Mayalmit’s homestay in Hee Gyathang village, Lower Dzongu.

Posters of Namprikdang Namsoong festival and Chalum damroo festival, designed by Crinchen Lepcha[1] [2] Source: Namprikdang Namsoong Festival Facebook page and Chalum Damroo Festival Facebook page

Lepcha Version: In search of Mayal Lyang: Harnessing the power of stories through community-led research to preserve Lepcha indigenous culture in India

Read the article in English.

Learn more:

Sikkim Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (SILTA)

Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)

the Global Advocacy Team (GAT)

Namprikdang Namsoong festival

Chalum Damroo Orange Festival

IAP’s training materials on community-led research