Kanchenjunga – mountain of the Himalaya

Serene and silent she holds her sway over the people at her feet

Calm, cold and cruel her icy grip exacts a fearsome price

Of those who uncaring step upon her highest peak

Not for nought did the ancient kings declare her sanctity

Guarding her secrets to preserve the magician’s spell

See her once and she will your heart enthral

Towering above subservient clouds she gazes out

Over what was once a tiny and exquisite principality

Now part of India’s rich domain, taking a fragile stand

On the windswept mountains of the Land of snows

Held captive by China’s iron hand.

Third highest peak in this world, but foremost in beauty,

The only Dakini amongst the towering Himalaya

Stay your stride and retreat, respect her solitude

Let no man’s feet tread upon her virgin summit’s snows

Blushing tender rose at Dawn’s first light

Tread the path unbidden and the Yetis will pursue

Sent out by the mountain queen to exact revenge

Turn back and let her majesty and allure haunt

Your daytime and the night with yearning snow clad

Whispers running on silent feet in your mind

Memory locked forever in a love affair with

Nature’s glory and Kanchenjunga’s might.

Facts behind the poetry - a mystic story

The Lepcha community of Sikkim worships the peak as their God. Every year in the third moon month they celebrate the festival of adoration. In front of their houses they make a replica of the mountain by using nine stone pieces and idolise it. Mask dance is a ritual in this festival. They believe that the blessings of the Himalaya that is the mountain Kong –Lo –Chu can only keep them healthy and wealthy.

The Sikkimese people have maintained the sanctity of their belief all through out the passage of time. The king of Sikkim while permitting any expedition in the past has always imposed a condition that the summiteers must not step the top. The days of the Kings are no more. Being a part of democratic India, there is Sikkim government now a day. However the expeditionary with a holy spirit in their mind have always religiously respected the ‘verdict of the king’. Till date a total of195 summiteers have resorted down leaving 6 feet of height to the top that is about 20 feet in length as a gratitude to the belief of the surrounding community whose permission and whole-hearted support can only run an expedition in line.

Tibet does not form any boundary of Kanchenjunga but it is only 15 Kilometers apart. In Tibetan language the peak is named as “Kang – Chen – Dzo -Nga”. It means “Five treasuries of the great snow”. The most popular and the modern name “Kanchenjunga” has been derived from this Tibetan pronunciation.