Mangar-Jati 

Manger is one of the castes of Nepali community that profess Hinduism. From Kali Gandaki to Karnali and even further east and the adjoining southern Himalayan region is considered to be the region inhabited by this tribe. That is why this entire region is called as Mangrat. It is believed that the Huns who invaded the region after 8th century came to be known as Mangar and the Heptal tribe who migrated the region immediately after the Huns and adopted Hinduism became Chhetri afterwards, but in actual, it was the Thakuries who lost their original title and came to be called Mangar in the long run. That is why Sikharnath has rightly said that in order to find out the ancestral history of Mangar one should take into consideration the ancient history of Thakuries. The difference between the two are as follows. Mangars, who follow the lineage of their mothers, recognise the marriage between the first consins wheras the Thakuries do not recognise such marriages and consider it as illegal and incest. Mangars accept the food cooked by unmarried female members in the household whereas such food prepared by unmarried Thakuri women is unacceptable in the community. Mangar avoid food cooked by widows although widow remarriage is permitted by their custom but the food cooked by such widows are permissible to her children and grand children.

In performing religious rites Mangar use both the Hindu Brahamin and their ethnic purohit called Bhushal. The naming ceremony of a child and the last rites of that dead are performed after fifteen and thirteen days respectively. Like other Hindus Mangar worship cow, take gaute and pay homage to dead ancestors

Due to Mangar's matrimonial relationship with Kirat Rais Mangars have been physically influenced and have taken to flattened nose, scanty beards and moustaches and short stature after the Rais

Mangar have been divided into three sub-castes viz. Thapa, Rana and Allay which are further categorized into nearly as many as four hundred different sub - divisions, but there is no discrimination of any kind between them because they are the descendents of common ancestors. Because of their similarity with the Hindus in respect of their dresses, religious festivals customs, traditions and their eating habits there is no wonder when they consider themselves as Hindus.

Drukpa Tsheshi

Lord Buddha, who was born in the Sakya dynasty about 563 years before the birth of Jesus Christ lived a mysterious but very meaning life. Based upon and intimately related with his life Buddhists all over celebrate four important festivals. These are festivals related with (1) His renunciation (2) achievement of enlightenment through meditation (3) propagation of Buddhism at Sarnath for the first time and ( 4) his Mahaparinirwan.

Among the four festivals that the Buddhist have been celebrating in reverential memory of their religious guru, Lord Buddha, Drukpa¬Tsheshi, meaning, the preaching of the first of the four truths that Lord Buddha propounded

According to Tibetan calendar, which is based upon the movement of the moon, , Drukpa¬Tsheshi falls on the fourth day of the sixth month each year, which falls in the month of August according to English calendar, and the day being a Govt. holiday this festival is celebrated grandiosely with much enthusiasm and reverence and funfare.

Siddhart Gautam renounced the world at the age of 28 years and left everything behind in search of the truth and finally came to Urubela or Bodhagaya where he subjected himself to meditation and penance for six years. At that time there were five other friends meditating with him but being unable to bear the hardship of meditation they all discontinued and left for Kashi leaving behind he determined Siddhart along who insisted on continuing till he achieved Samyak Sambodhi or the divine enlightenment. He meditated for six years under a pipal tree and achieved enlightenment and also found out the explanation for a  man's birth, old age and diseases and finally his death. After that he became very renowned and came to be known as Buddha. But he was not satisfied with what he achieved. He wanted to do good to others and share his divine experience through religious discourse and sermons, that is why he left for Sarnath. There he remembered those five friends who had deserted him while meditating at Bodhgaya and as luck would have it, he met them at Sarnath who on seeing the radiating face of Buddha bowed before him and begged for forgiveness. Lord Buddha pardoned them and made them his first disciples by delivering them his first sermon.

Lord Buddha said that those who profess Buddhism should relinquish the luxury of life, shun violence and strive for Nirvana by following the four Arya Truths, i.e. (1) What is pain? (2) How does pain crop up? (3) What causes pain? (4) What are the ways to eliminate pain?

And in order to eliminate pain and achieve nirvana Buddha gave his followers eight ways or means called Astaanga-marg viz Samayak dristi, samayak sankalp, samayak bani, samayak karma, samayak jivika, samayak parishram,samayak smriti or lagan and samayak samadhi.

On the basis of Buddha's first sermon the festival of , Drukpa¬Tsheshi is celebrated among Buddhist community. On this auspicious day the Buddhists in Sikkim light butter lights both in gumpas and in their houses and pay homage to Lord Buddha and Guru Rimpochay. In Gangtok Buddhist go to gumpas like Chorten at Deorali, Chuklakhang, Manilakhang, Enchay Gumpa, Gour Gumpa etc. and offer prayer for international peace, happiness and fraternity.

By treading on the path shown by Lord Buddha, with firm belief and determination, one can finally achieve Nirvana, his life's goal and all should usel1is brain and means to promote international peace, fraternity, fellow feeling and unity. All should mute to safeguard their religion, is the message, that this festival of , Drukpa¬Tsheshi aims to deliver to all the Buddhist world over.