1. Tingvong: A Lepcha Village in Sikkim (2005)

The film illustrates the changes the Lepcha of the Dzongu reserve, North Sikkim, have been through in the last 60 years.
From the 1940s, the Lepcha of Tingvong village gradually abandoned hunting, gathering and the slash and burn cultivation of dry rice, and became settled agriculturalists. Entire mountains sides were converted to cardamom and terraced for the cultivation of irrigated paddy. The irrigated rice and the cardamom cash crop not only brought the Lepcha within Sikkim’s market economy but helped create a surplus which could among other things be invested in religion.
In the 1940s, the Lepcha of Tingvong embraced Buddhism and all its complex rituals without however abandoning their strong shamanic traditions. Today, both forms of rituals amiably co-exist in the village.
Cinematographer: Dawa T Lepcha
Anthropologist and project coordinator: Anna Balikci-Denjongpa
Visual anthropology advisor: Prof. Asen Balikci
Produced by the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Gangtok, Sikkim.
‘Tingvong’ was screened at the following film festivals:
1. Film Festival of the Royal Anthropological Institute in Oxford, Sept 2005
2. Beeld voor Beeld, Amsterdam 2005
3. North-East Documentary Film Festival, Shillong 2005
4. Bilan du Film Ethnographique, Paris 2006
5. Moscow International Ethnographic Film Festival 2006
6. Belgrade International Ethnographic Film Festival 2006
7. Himalayan Film Festival, Amsterdam 2007
8. Himalayan Film Festival, Tokyo, Oct 2008
The film won a prize at the North-East Documentary Film Festival in Shillong, 2005.
DVDs of ‘Tingvong’ are available at the Institute’s book shop

[@abhrajitsings]

Lepchas are so honest and innocent. I love Lepcha people and their culture. Wish I could live in rural Sikkim & learn their way of life.

[@phuntsoglepcha3547]

our people though were given derogatory names due to alchohol issue and honest nature .Just like the Tribal Indians in America we are bound to be taken down by the problem. migration , religious conversion , OVER THE YEARS A LOT HAS HAPPENED STILL we never hated NOR REVOLTED anyone instead welcomed everyone with hot tea or chi (wine) but our way to treat everyone with open arms had people losing their lands and lives as a result of alchohol consumption. As our ancestors used to live for survival and not for the materialistic world . THERE WAS NO NEED OF LYING FOR THEm BACK THEN AND DIDNT KNEW HOW THE WORLD WAS SELFISH ITS FOOLISH NEEDS. happy to be a part of this culture ... IF YOU GO TO A RURAL AREA AND WATCH A LEPCHA ELDERS FACE ITS HONESTY WILL ITSELF BE REVEALED IN HIS SMILE AND ACCENT.

[@damienlepcha177]

I hope and pray that they are still practicing and preserving their culture and tradition. Unlike us living in the metros, even being Lepchas we've forgotten everything..

[@khangrikyiduk1634]

The load of preservation is gigantic, 'shoulder to share' would have been much appriciated

[@dominictok7444]

My earlier notion of lecphas being nepalis have completely changed. Instead they are more akin to tribes here in arunachal pradesh

[@kaliunisfernandez535]

I grew up in Kalimpong. This is a beautiful narration of traditions and peoples and the wonderful environment I know and love. Thanks.

[@hooyagirl]

i hope this kind of tradition won’t die. nice video👍🏼

[@darmitafimu1281]

I feel very glad to see those videos in which there is my grandmother 💗😌

[@tendonglepcha3180]

Thanks for this wonderful documentary.Proud to be Lepcha

[@adamkunzun5359]

Proud and love you pure hearted lepcha people you are far more better than city people in many ways. I applaud you hard works for Maintaining your daily needs . You are so close well connected to nature with which you are one so you respect and maintain nature without any greed for over exploitating it. Even if you lack modern education but you can understand better the cost of life unlike city people. LOVE AND RESPECT FROM INDIAN ADMINISTERED KASHMIR

[@arafhasan3397]

Hi I am from Bangladesh thanks for this excellent video. Best of luck

[@dichenchoden175]

Very informative and interesting documentary...its beautifully created with patience and was authentic perse..the art of documentary is fully put forth... enjoyed watching it...and will be watching all documentary made by this production ...👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@SujataMukherjee01]

Thanks for this nice documentary. Upload more about people living in remote mountain areas. They have such an amazingly simplistic life

[@tekacharya5098]

Great people, great traditional skills for fishing and I love the landscape. I really love it!

[@wallisfield]

A very fine piece of work. Thank you for uploading such an insightful and respectful account of the way of life

[@Amarmayurmahal]

So good documentary. I believe this should be produced any cine festival so that world may know about them. Marvellous work done.

[@jibansherpa1640]

Ramro lagyo sikiimko gahugar parampara m nepalbata herdai xu hi👍👍👍👍 m pni budhis nai hu

[@chinlopseye6716]

Very patiently documented from sowing of paddy and harvest of rice and cardamom. Saw for the very first time how Bongthing (shaman) invokes the deities.

[@krishnac5887]

Oww soo lovely 💕😍 n cute voice when that kid sang a 🎶🎤song... Hum ko tum se pyaar hai..... Love ❤😘the way he sang

[@chtmswntnykmnuwngza]

Same to mee 🥰😍

[@user-eu5wn6rw9m]

I am Bhuddhist I love every thing in vedeo

[@mssimicksimick8937]

Lepcha original traditional system should be kept alive for ever.Itis purest of the pure .

[@ved942]

I really appreciate with this video 🙏 Sikkim is the best place it's like a heaven

[@mingmooroungmit9351]

Great to watch this Keep going Lot of love n support Proud to be Lepcha ❤️❤️

[@vajraheart6052]

Very nice. Buddhism coexisted beautifully with local culture and religion. This happens almost everywhere Buddhism had spread from Japan, China, Thailand, Mongolia, Tibet. Not the case with Abrahamic religion where it denigrates and completely destroys local culture which creates so much social problems with indigenous population. Very sad! Due to influence from Buddhism, there is no blood or animal sacrifice in this Shaman rituals, that’s good to see. Checkout about 50 minutes, mention of role of Lamas and Shaman. Thank you for sharing.

[@benphiponlepcha5746]

Ah i watched today I don't know how it appeared in my wall and I started watching. Thanks for your video 💙

[@user-dj3jf1io8u]

非常精彩的記録片。還有字幕說明，畵面清晰，剪辑完美。

[@nimkitlepcha7370]

Thankyou for preserving our culture 💓💓..

[@yaticahaya8546]

Very smart people's. Like it. Salam from Indonesia.

[@Elrita_]

Yati Cahaya Atem Khaamree (Big Salam) from our Communities. TOKCHEEY.(THANK YOU)

[@santoshlepcha8079]

Thank you so much for video. Original..there is no artificial about it. Original...keep it up.

[@devy_h700]

So beautiful past।।। So much hard work ।। A new dawn

[@budhraidebbarma3490]

Lepcha community is so beautiful and hardworking

[@lobsangwangchen7885]

my term for such videos would be called raw documentary video. i like it.

[@jacobeksor6088]

Beautiful traditional . I’m Montagnards indigenous .

[@tenzind4175]

Prity much same as it has in Tibetan Marriages.. prayers , lamas , rituals, khadaks, drinks , food 🙏

[@dukchenlepcha4342]

Let our culture never die and happy birthday to our king Achuley!

[@KL-ni2vx]

How nice to hear that kid (now grandpa) singing....

[@magicash711]

It is a different style that the North India people just feel connected to everyone

[@cherrybarfungpa9309]

I am glad that tradition is being maintained by the Lepcha Tribe of Sikkim. I do hope that the state government of Sikkim has a contingency plan to ensure that the benefits reach the beneficiaries.... Menlom and respect to the guardian deities of Sikkim

[@earlysda]

The "guardian dieties" are being rejected by more and more people who are hungering for salvation that only Jesus Christ can bring!

[@cherrybarfungpa9309]

not surprised because Jesus was the reincarnation of buddha!

[@stonew1927]

Salvation that only jesus christ can bring? What a crock of shit! That's the problem with you christians, you can never simply respect and accept other people's belief systems, you think that somehow they need to be "saved" when in fact it is you people who need to be saved from your own conditioned delusions! I grew up christian and thankfully rejected the religion when I traveled around the world and opened my eyes to the wisdom and kindness of other societies. You could stand to do the same and learn from them instead of the other way around!

[@wilsons2882]

The lepcha native tradition tibeto buddhist culture values tradition needs protection.

[@earlysda]

@user-vs3yl3hd8rzhuge/user-vs3, Jesus rose from the grave after 3 days, went to heaven, and is returning soon surrounded by millions of angels to judge us for how we've lived these lives he has so lovingly created for us. How will it be with your soul on that grand and awesome day?

[@claudiosaltara8847]

I wish these are not touched by the modern world and live a simple life in happiness.

[@Kasyom]

Sorry to disappoint you

[@yahudimajnoon]

what a nice warm and calm ppl,btw @27:35 i thought he was talking tru a mobile phone,haha

[@suktsheringlepcha3733]

I love to live Indigenous

[@franciscalepcha4827]

Superb....

[@premkitlepcha3448]

❤satah ajakmo tokschii mo ❤

[@phuntsoglepcha3547]

the influence of buddhisn can be seen in every stage of lepcha rituals ...

[@khangrikyiduk1634]

I wish all the prosperity to my Lepcha brotherers

[@shivanibaderao3953]

Can you please tell exact location of this place please!!!.I need to study this house for my architectural project

[@meinerHeld]

beautiful

[@suktsheringlepcha3733]

Where is this village?

[@ravilepcha6241]

With love from Gitdabling

[@weRfreAkZ]

Omg I’m in us and I miss sishnu baath rice

[@chozangtsheringlepcha5314]

Good Job.

[@imheruka4426]

lepchas in general are very honest. FPP

[@rongkup1]

Very hard worker people......

[@chtmswntnykmnuwngza]

What is lepcha? Is it a tribe?? So beautiful culture 🥰😍watching from itanagar..

[@NerdyYeager82]

Yea, the Original Native tribe of Sikkim, Kalimpong, Darjeeling etc..

[@sbrons1]

I actually went to Tingvong and submitted an anthropology paper on the Lepchas the year before this was made. My paper was submitted to the Tibetology Institute and shared with the project coordinator of this film. Strange that there is no reference.

[@liyokeho6003]

this film is year 2005?

[@tenzingdorjeelepcha9451]

sbrons1 could you enlighten more about your anthropology report. Thanks

[@Amarmayurmahal]

If it's your research work no doubt you have done a brilliant job. And the team who visualized your paper are really done a tremendous job spending lots of time to materialise your research

[@rmorton3186]

Very strange isnt it.I was once asked to write a paper on a vehicle assembly operation and make suggestions for advancement.Years later I was talking to one of the owners of the now closed plant and he told me he was never presented with it

[@mariobroselli3642]

What do they do to become lamas?

[@pratyushkumarsah40]

Nice video 👍👍👍

[@tashichopel1070]

Why did NIT stop producing such documentaries?

[@namgyalinstituteoftibetolo3185]

we will upload soon

[@kartikbaraik6705]

Mujhe unka mukhaute wala dance bahut accha laga.

[@youjinlucky865]

They’re Buddhist nyigmapa kind of yogi. Guru rinpoche follower.

[@illusion_hind1087]

Lepcha the real inhabitants of #Sukhim 💯🙏

[@ladycharsw]

Nice video of all the families working together to get the food. Why do they use arrows, why nkt hi s to kill the animals? thanks

[@chinlopseye6716]

Charlotte Schreffler Bow and arrows are used everyday before farming Lepchas as mentioned are hunters, fisherman and gatherer no hunting is done during breeding period so there is a time and season for everything.

[@youjinlucky865]

Very nice they totally look like Tibetan people .

[@rajivsarmah8413]

Youjin Lucky they r sino tibbetan but look like tibbetan due to marriage with tibbetan

[@tekacharya5098]

I really wanna visit this place. Which place is this? Help me please

[@Elrita_]

Tek Acharya Dzongu Northern part of Sikkim.

[@tenzingdorjeelepcha9451]

Tek Acharya Hi, you can contact @ [e-mail]

[@chinlopseye6716]

Tek Acharya Its in North Sikkim you have to go downhill from Mangan but make sure you have proper permit from Sikkim govt as it's a reserved land for the Lepchas.

[@subbatamang557]

Lepcha jati pani serpa jasto rahechha

[@dhenatabing6555]

Ramailo ho

[@sontubera8090]

Good job

[@2kchallengein1month46]

Very smart's people

[@lepchalyrics5732]

❤❤❤❤

[@sangmitlepcha6976]

❤️❤️

[@passanglepcha4364]

Anang acho kayu rong kup rum kup yomba soom achong kayu rong kup song Rey.

[@Monkey_money1]

peaceful culture....

[@phuntsoktashi6155]

uncle tom??

[@youjinlucky865]

That’s call Chang payi. Tibetan people drink exactly the same.

[@gurungandy]

beautiful place same like a china

[@Nisha_forreal]

State.trible.lapcha.sikkim.

[@dakmansubba4141]

सर। आपने। सिक कम। इतिहास

[@tsheringlepcha1406]

Khamrrii mo ran song

[@satyasing11]

dharti ka suwarg.

[@sujatalepcha2908]

Urgnle.sikkim.lapcha.state

[@dukchenlepcha4342]

We nort east indians are treated so badly other will say us chinese Japanese and nepali and say that we have small eyes in nepali they will say us chemse I hate that please stop it we all are human .

[@rathinbiswas9146]

nice p sikkim nidia

[@zohmairalte6484]

nmn

[@progamer-wo7yf]

Uuuuu

[@earlysda]

I have a Lepcha pastor friend, and he says that fortunately many Lepcha are turning away from the evil spirits, and turning to salvation in Jesus Christ. Praise God, and let's help others who are hungering for the truth!

[@tenzingdorjeelepcha9451]

Keep your ill thought to yourself if you can't accept/respect others beliefs and practices. No God can save if you are full of intolerance and confusion. Learn to respect then think about salvation. Don't ruin the documentary rather cherish the simplicity and contentment of life.

[@chinlopseye6716]

Actually we Lepchas are animistic and believe like in all relegion good and evil. I am born and brought up in a Christian family but I believe many gets confused between tradition culture and religion. No matter what relegion we belong the Lepcha in my blood remain the same. Glad to see the fat thikung in the beginning as I had been there getting a pass from Sikkim govt just to do some photo essay based mostly in the folktales of The serpentine cave with a door of stone lock.

[@Nisha_forreal]

No.2005.all.rade.faste.lapcha Sikkim.trible.world.sikkim.lapcha