– Chandragopal,
London:
With the beginning of the Chasok festivities, the Yakthung Culture and Heritage (YCH) UK has started a programme in Ashford where its team visits homes to sing traditional Hakpare–Khyalī songs.
On 18 December 2025, the day of Mangsir Purnima, the team visited the home of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Vice President Biswasdip Tigela to perform Hakpare–Khyalī. During the visit, Ganesh Ijam, the coordinator of YCH, said that the aim of organising this programme is to make Chasok special and to preserve and promote Yakthung cultural traditions such as Hakpare–Khyalī.
Welcoming Ganesh Ijam’s team, Vice President Tigela said,
“I had never seen or heard Hakpare or Samlo being sung door-to-door during Chasok. This is a historically significant cultural event. As a Limbu, I consider myself fortunate to witness it.”
Expressing her thanks, Mrs. Bhojkumarī Tigela said,
“I hope that in the coming years, this tradition of singing Hakpare–Khyalī and visiting homes during Chasok will continue.”
The team includes YCH researchers Ganesh Ijam, Jitendra Chemjong, Charpe Phurumbu, Santabir Nembang, Lahang Chemjong, among others. This programme is also seen as a kind of cultural experiment within the Limbu community. After the programme, the team plans to assess the response from the community and design future activities accordingly, said Jitendra Chemjong.
Last month, Yakthung activists formally announced the organisation following an interaction programme held with Dr. Sabin Ninglekhu and Jhuma Limbu.
