Solukhumbu : The disasters caused by climate change are posing increasing adversity to humanity with the degradation and loss of not only water, forest and agriculture but also the heritages. As the intensity of climate change is getting severe of late, the religious and cultural heritages are facing threats in the district as well.
The religious and cultural heritages, linked to the identity of ethnic community and existing for centuries, faced utter impact of climate change that caused a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) on August 16, 2024 in Solukhumbu, a mountainous touristy district.
The GLOF occurred two years back in the upper belt of Thame in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality-5 not only damaged individual property, hotels and public infrastructures like bridge and roads but also the cultural heritages. It caused the severe damage to the heritages like mane, chorten and other shrines of Buddhist people in Khumbu region, the lap of the world’s highest peak, Sagarmatha. These places bear religious, cultural and even historic significance to Buddhist people.
Over 1,000 ‘manes’ existing for 600 years along the Namche-Thame route were swept away by the GLOF that triggered floods in the Thame River. These stone objects were engraved in ‘sambota’ script, according to chair of ward-3, Gyaljen Sherpa.
The floods had swept away 20 houses, hotels and lodges combined, a health post and a school.
The locals said it is difficult to restore the art they inherited for 600 years to protect the cultural heritage and originality of the community.
The temperature is increasing more than the global average in Hindu Kush region, according to International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). The rising temperature resulted in quick melting of snow and the glacial lakes expanding and bursting. The ultimate effect is on entire humanity in the downstream- loss of human, and physical and cultural property.
What is mane?
A tourism expert and knowledgeable person Ang Chhiring Sherpa said ‘mane’ is a historical cultural object made by the Buddhist people for centuries. It is a prayer wheel for Buddhist people. In local language, it is called ‘mane langa’. These manes have a holy mantra inscription- ‘Om mani padme hun’ and various teachings of Buddha in diverse designs and portraits. There is a traditional belief that these holy structures are circumambulated, he added.
Once the shrines are circumambulated and wheels of manes spun, it instills and spreads peace, compassion and positive energy, according to another local knowledgeable person, Lamakaji Sherpa.
Manes are prepared in three phases. Only craftsmen can prepare these objects, requiring dexterity.
Chairman of ward no-5 in Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality, Pasang Gyaljen Sherpa, informed that nearly 1,500 historic manes were damaged- some damaged completely and some received partial damages- in separate five places due to the floods in the Thame River. The river flood was caused by the GLOF.
“These are not simply stones but crafted stones carrying special significance. These are the manes with sambota script existing for 600 years. Most of these were brushed away. Few were retrieved later,” he added.
Even a gate to Thame village received damages by the Thame River flood triggered by the GLOF two years back. The gate was an attractive infrastructure built by adhering to the Buddhist tradition and architecture. It was a symbol of cultural beauty and identity of Thame village.
Even the foreign tourists used to take photographs standing at this gate and garner information on culture and Buddhist tradition. Currently, it is deserted. Thame village is located at 3,800 metres above sea level.
A tourism entrepreneur in Namche, Lamakaji Sherpa, informed that even the tourism business was suffering a huge dent due to damages in cultural heritages. “Thame used to record arrival of many foreign tourists who keenly observed mane, chorten and other religious structures,” he said, adding that tourists are found dismayed due to disappearance of such sight.
The Sagarmatha National Park is listed in the UNESCO heritage site. In this area, there are several ancient villages like Thame, Khumjung, Namche, Forche, Pangboche and Dingboche which have old heritages like monastery, chorten and thousands of manes (prayer wheels). But, the disasters like floods and landslides caused by climate change are posing increasing challenges to the preservation of heritages. Reasoning that such holy things and places are spiritual attractions, the locals have demanded immediate restoration.
