In the ancient times of the Kirat people, before the mountains held such names and before the rivers found their courses, there was a great and wise king named Bali Hang. Beloved and revered by his subjects, he was known not only for his valor and justice but for his deep connection to the earth, sky, and spirits. Bali Hang was believed to possess mystical powers, one who could command the elements and bring prosperity to his land.
His kingdom flourished under his rule, with fertile lands yielding abundant crops, clear rivers flowing, and the people united in harmony. Folk tales say he could speak to the winds, command rains to quench the thirsty fields, and summon the sun to shine warmly after long winters. His guidance was sought by many before embarking on important ventures such as planting crops, building homes, or marrying young couples. People believed the very fortune of the land depended on Bali Hang’s blessing.
As is often the case in such tales, Bali Hang’s life was marked by both glory and a tragic prophecy. One fateful day, during the monsoon season, Bali Hang had a terrifying vision. In the vision, he saw darkness swallowing the world on the night of the new moon—the “Amavasya” night in the month of Mansir. The darkness was not just the absence of light, but a shadow of death and despair that would descend upon him and his kingdom.
Disturbed yet resolute, Bali Hang summoned his ministers, priests, and people to share the omen. The council of elders and villagers gathered in the central hall, listening with heavy hearts as their king spoke of the night threatening to engulf their lives. The people, proud of their king and deeply attached to their land and culture, refused to accept such doom.
On that very night, as the new moon rose and the world should have turned dark, Bali Hang’s people lit every lamp, candle, and fire they possessed. The entire kingdom was lit with a million flames, from simple oil lamps hanging outside every home to great bonfires set on hilltops. The night sky, usually swallowed by moonless blackness, glimmered like day. The people sang hymns and prayers, invoking the blessings of the Sun and Moon deities, urging the God of Death, Yamaraj, to spare their beloved king.
They implored the Moon to set early—this request was known later as “Laringek”—and begged the Sun to rise early, called “Namlingek.” The brilliance of their collective light confused Yamaraj, who, mistaking the darkness for daybreak, did not come to claim Bali Hang’s soul. Thus, the king’s life was spared from the clutches of death, and the kingdom rejoiced, celebrating the miraculous “Night of Light” that defeated darkness itself.
From that year onward, the Limbu people established the Balihang Tongnam festival to commemorate this victory over darkness and the king’s rebirth. It began with two plays representing the duality of time—Laringek, the play at sunset representing the prayer for the Moon’s early setting, and Namlingek, the play at sunrise symbolizing the Sun’s early rising. These plays are vibrant performances, mixing ritual, dance, music, and storytelling reenacting the tale of Bali Hang’s vision and the triumph of light and life.
The celebrations include traditional Limbu dance forms like the joyous Kaylang, accompanied by the resonant beats of sacred drums such as the Chyabrung. The plays are interspersed with sacred songs, chants from the ancient Mundhum—the spiritual oral scripture of the Limbu people—and prayers invoking blessings for prosperity, health, and protection. These rituals also reaffirm the community’s strong connection to their ancestors, spirits, and the natural environment, honoring the eternal struggle between light and darkness.
Local lore enriches the festival with vivid narratives. It is said that during the festival preparations, a traditional Limbu house is built anew as a symbol of renewal and continuity. Sacred objects from the ancestral past are brought out, and stories of how Tagera Ningwaphuma Mang—the earth goddess—and other deities contributed to the well-being of the people are recounted with great reverence. The story of fire’s gift to humanity is a central theme, credited to the goddess teaching the first Limbus how to cook and protect themselves from disease.
The tale of Bali Hang and the Night of Light is more than just a folk legend; it is a living, breathing testament to the resilience and unity of the Limbu people. It illustrates the central values of hope, community strength, and faith against adversity. The story manifests in cultural expression ranging from ritual dramas and music to social gatherings where generations meet, exchange stories, and pass down the heritage.
Through this legend, the Limbu people celebrate not just a king or a single event, but the larger cosmic order—the balance of light and darkness, life and death, and the power of human determination in alliance with the spiritual world to overcome great perils. The Night of Light stands as a metaphor for cultural survival and the triumph of indigenous traditions in the face of centuries of social and political upheaval.
As the festival concludes with the Namlingek play at sunrise, the community sings prayers invoking blessings for a new day, a new era, and renewed bonds among people and nature. Through these acts of remembrance and celebration, Bali Hang’s legacy reinforces the community’s identity and continuity, ensuring that the light of Limbu culture shines on through generations.
Modern Limbu communities continue to celebrate Balihang Tongnam with great enthusiasm, inviting neighboring communities to join in a joyful display of dances, music, and festive foods like the traditional Thongba—a fermented millet drink. Despite the passage of centuries, the message of Bali Hang’s night—the power of unity, light, and hope—remains as relevant and cherished as ever.
References
- Anirban Saha, “Balihang Tongnam: The Limbu Mythology & Our Experience,” 2017.
- Mundhum Texts and Oral Traditions of the Kirat People.
- “A Glance at Limbu Folklore,” Sekmuri Foundation, 2024.
- Nisha Thapa, “Phedangma Among Limboos of Sikkim,” 2017.
- "The Limbu Community: Beliefs, Myths, and Culture," The Social Science Review, 2024.