Eklavya School Choir charms French delegates at Kuzu Cultural Festival in Gangtok

The melodious voices of the Eklavya Model Residential School Gangyap Choir left a lasting impression on international delegates during a special evening at the Kuzu Cultural Festival 2025, held at Manan Kendra. Organised by the Department of Culture, the ten-day cultural celebration from May 1 to May 10 aims to promote Sikkim’s rich artistic heritage through music, film, and performances.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly M. N. Sherpa, Secretary of the Culture Department Basant K. Lama, and a delegation from France led by Consul General Didier Talpain. Also present were Nicolas Facino, Director of Alliance Française du Bengale; Samuel Bouchard, Cooperation Attaché; and Anjita Roychaudhury, Press Attaché, among others.

In his address, Talpain praised the choir’s performance, calling it a moving tribute to Sikkim's cultural vibrancy. He also lauded Sikkim’s leadership in organic farming and appreciated the emotional bond the people of the state share with the red panda, its official state animal.

Highlighting the historical and cross-cultural connections between France and the Himalayan region, Talpain introduced the screening of the film Alexandra David-Néel, which followed the musical segment. The film chronicles the extraordinary journey of the French explorer who famously travelled to Tibet in the early 20th century.