Remembering Teesta and the Water Dragon

An Illustrated Folk Narrative of the Lepchas

Abstract

In this illustrated folk narrative, a muun, a traditional female shaman of the Lepcha tribe, takes us on a journey of the tribe’s origins, it’s connection to the ancestors, mother earth, and the sacred waters through the muun’s vision of the water dragon. The story is based on several interviews with the shamans and elders of the Lepcha tribe. It is important to understand that the muun, the local rivers and the water dragon are essentially all the same. Their voices alternate throughout the narrative. The muun is simply a vessel who helps us connect to the many realities and realms. The confluence of rivers help the muun reconnecting to her lineage, mother earth, herself and to the water dragon. The water dragon is simultaneously journeying with the rivers and is also emerging from the muun’s heart to channel the messages that are needed to be shared. In this multi-layered story, the storyteller(s) tell(s) us about birth, marriage, life, and death as practiced facts. The story is intended to convey information about different ceremonies and rites of passage. The essence of the story, its language and visuals have been made keeping in mind the ways in which oral storytelling is shared locally among members of the Lepcha tribe. It is written in such a way as leave much for readers to interpret or imagine for themselves. Visual hints should help to guide readers to make and understand the connections. The spirit of the story lies in our remembrance and reconnection to all that we have forgotten. It is a humble voice for the river Teesta and water bodies of the world and their current bondage and death. Especially at a crucial time like ours, when mother earth and her kingdom are disintegrating rapidly, and our survival is at stake.