- By Ishika Mundhra
Nestled in lap of Himalayas lies the state of Sikkim in northeast India known for its picturesque landscapes, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The state's cultural landscape is influenced by its indigenous tribes, neighboring regions, and historical heritage.
The indigenous tribes that have residency in Sikkim are mainly the Bhutia, the Lepchas, and the Nepalese and minorly the Limbus, the Sherpas, and the Tamangs. The ethnical and religion harmony among various tribes makes Sikkim the bouquet of different traditions, folks, and customs.
Different people different languages like English, Nepali, Sikkimese (Bhutia), Lepcha, Gurung, Dzongkha, Groma, Hindi, Tibetan, Kafle, Limbu, Majhwar, Tamang, Sherpa, and Yakha. Among these, the official languages of state are English, Nepali, Sikkimese (Bhutia), and Lepcha.
The culture can also be seen through arts and crafts of the state like Thangka paintings (images of Buddhism), wood carvings, carpet weaving, handlooms (dragons, prayer wheels, and natural scenes), metal works, and bamboo and cane crafts.
Sikkim also is home for various folk and traditional dances and music. Some of the dance forms are Rechungma, Gha to Kito, Chi Rmu among others. While on the other hand, traditional and folk music forms are Dohori, Chhattisri, Lhamo, Sherpa Lok Geet, Tamang Selo, Chyabrung, Mun, and many others. But most well-known dances are the mask dances, called ‘Chaams’, performed during festivals and special occasions which were traditionally dine to chase away evil spirits and demons.
The residents also celebrates various cultural festivals like Losar, Saga Dawa, Bumchu, Phang Lhabsol, Indra Jatra or Yenya, Maghe Sankranti, Durga Puja (Dassain), Sonam Lochar, Drupka Teshi.
There are different traditional dresses for different tribes. For examples, the traditional dress of a Lepcha woman is known as Dumvum which is an ankle-length dress that is worn like a saree. Another traditional dress of women is known as Tago which is a loose-fitted dress worn along with a blouse, headgear, and a belt. The traditional attire of Lepcha men is Thokro-dum which is a shirt, a pajama, yenthatse, and headgear. The traditional dress of women and men of the Bhutia tribe is known as Kho or Bakhu that is tied at the waist with a silk or a cotton belt.
The Sinki and Gundruk soups, noodles, fermented soybean, traditional cottage cheese, thukpas, fermented rice products, bamboo shoots, wantons and momos are the food specialty of the state. The staple food of Sikkim is Rice.
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| Food of Sikkim |
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| Art of Sikkim |
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| Chaams |
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| Dresses of Sikkim |
