Mountain fair

For my last day in Sikkim, my two Sikkim University colleagues took me with them to a mela (religious fair) on a river called Rorathang:  lovely country, rugged roads, crazy driver... we even had a puncture!

 

This was one of several groups' model sacrifices for the day: the ram was alive yesterday. Dignitaries (they tried to recruit me to the dais!) were treated to an endless dignified dances by brahman/chetriya maidens balancing flames on their heads - after a rather more dynamic  Limboo dance, traditional moves to a contemporary dance house mix. A tombola was one of many gambling opportunities. And then the rides -

 

traditional, and Mickey Mousey globalization-standard too. Everything from ministers to merry-go-rounds came up that road!