Sikkim is a beautiful state situated in the northeastern part of India, in the eastern Himalayas. Even if Sikkim is among the smallest Indian states, it is one of the most-visited mountain destinations in the country. A part of the Great Himalayas, it is known for its subtropical and alpine climates, biodiversity, and majestic views of the Kanchenjungha. Gangtok, Zuluk, Lacheng, Lachung, and Pelling are some of the prettiest hill stations in Sikkim. Let us explore the culture of Sikkim indepth with this blog!
What is it that attracts thousands of tourists to Sikkim every year? Is it just its fantastic landscapes and pleasant weather? Sikkim is a rare blend of diverse customs, religions, traditions, and festivals of different communities. The unique culture of Sikkim, its amiable people and their simple lifestyle, and various traditions are what make Sikkim a place like no other.
How did Sikkim become an Indian state?
To understand the culture of Sikkim, it is important to know its history. Sikkim is bordered by Tibet to its north, Bhutan to its southeast, Nepal to its west, and West Bengal to its south. Because of its geographical location, the state has witnessed various ups and downs, and battles between multiple races. Its earliest inhabitants were the Lepchas, along with other tribes like Naong, Mon, and Chang.
It was during the 14th century that the Bhutias started entering this area. 1642 is the year of the creation of the Kingdom of Sikkim. Phuntsog Namgyal, the first temporal and spiritual king of Sikkim, belonged to the Bhutia community. This dynasty was in power in Sikkim for more than 3 decades.
Many territorial wars troubled the Sikkimese folks during the 18th century. Frequent wars took place between Sikkim and Nepal/ Bhutan. Nepal succeeded in occupying a few parts of southern and western Sikkim. During this phase, a large number of people from Nepal migrated to Sikkim. In 1816, Sikkim joined hands with the British forces in the Anglo-Nepalese war. Chogyals were not so powerful anymore as the British were ruling India at this time.
But the Sikkimese people got alarmed when the East India Company first captured Darjeeling. Darjeeling was earlier a part of Sikkim. The Namgyal dynasty made several attempts to avoid being ruled by the British. After many discussions, The British gave Sikkim the status of a princely state and the Namgyal dynasty continued ruling.
1947 was the iconic year of India’s independence. Many political parties emerged in Sikkim and Sikkim signed the Indo-Sikkimese treaty in 1950. The newly formed political groups gradually surpassed the Buddhist monarchy. Palden Thondup Namgyal was the state’s last monarch. It officially became an Indian state in 1975, during the tenure of Indira Gandhi.
The culture of Sikkim
Sikkim’s topography is ethereal. From captivating views of the Kanchenjungha to the winding Teesta, Sikkim is on the bucket list of every mountain lover. Its culture is an amalgamation of diverse religions, traditions, and customs of multiple communities. These tribes have interesting features, art forms, dances, and religious rituals. The Lepchas, the Nepalese, and the Bhutias are the three major tribes that have occupied Sikkim. People from different Indian states have migrated to Sikkim, but it has preserved its uniqueness.
The culture and tradition of Sikkim bloom like colorful bouquets decorated with folk dances, customs, traditions, and culinary habits of various tribes. The places of worship, festivals, cultures dances, and garments reflect Sikkim’s myriad cultures. The Sikkimese culture considers Nature as the most powerful God. This explains why they try their best to maintain the lush greenery, forests, mountains, and rivers.
Language spoken by the people of Sikkim
The descendants of Hindus with their roots in Nepal dominate a major portion of the population of Sikkim. The Nepalese constitute 80% of the state’s population. So, the primary language that most locals speak in Sikkim is Nepali. Lepcha and Sikkimese or Bhutia are the other languages used by people to communicate in Sikkim. Some people also speak Tibetan, Limbu, Tamang, Majhwar, and Sherpa.
The 11 official languages of Sikkim are Nepali, Hindi, Tamang, Sikkimese, Limbu, Lepcha, Newari, Magar, Rai, Sunwar, Gurung, and English. To popularize Sikkim culture in English, schools mainly teach in English. They also rely on the English language to write government documents and letters.
What do people in Sikkim eat?
The food consumed by the inhabitants of Sikkim is different from what people eat in most Indian states. The food is a reflection of the state’s culture which is a harmonious blend of Tibet, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. A traditional Sikkim meal comprises Gundruk soups and Sinki, thukpas, and noodles. People also eat products made from fermented rice, bamboo shoots, cottage cheese, and fermented soybean. Rice is the staple food and they generally have boiled/steamed food.
Because of the cold climate, the people of Sikkim also prefer drinks with their food. Most men drink local beer, rum, and whiskey. Travel enthusiasts visiting Sikkim fall in love with the nutritious dumplings and wantons available everywhere. If you are in Sikkim, you should not miss the opportunity to relish delicious momos. They prepare momos with a variety of fillings like chicken, beef, pork, prawn, etc.
People residing in rural areas of Sikkim grow their crops. They cultivate crops like buckwheat, millet, potato, soybean, barley, and wheat. They preserve non-seasonal veggies through the process of fermentation.
Traditional dresses worn by women and men in Sikkim
You will get a glimpse of the culture of Sikkim and its social lifestyle from the dresses people wear. Different tribes prefer various kinds of costumes. Dumvum is the regular dress of a woman belonging to the Lepcha tribe. Women wear this ankle-length dress like a saree. Tago is another traditional attire preferred by women. This loose-fitted dress, along with a headgear, belt, and blouse, looks gorgeous.
Thokro-dum is the traditional costume of Lepcha men. It includes a pair of pajamas, a shirt, headgear, and Yenthatse. These dresses make it easy for people to engage in fieldwork. Bakhu or Kho is the customary garment of men and women of the Bhutia community. They tie the Bakhu around their waist with a cotton or silk belt.
What are the festivals celebrated in Sikkim?
Festivals are necessary to give people a chance to rejoice and unite together in a friendly atmosphere. The people of Sikkim celebrate numerous festivals throughout the year. Most of the inhabitants are Buddhists. So, they celebrate Buddhist festivals in a grand manner. To take part in their celebrations, refer to the Buddhist calendar before planning your Sikkim trip. Here’s a list of some notable festivals in Sikkim:
Saga Dawa
As per the culture of Sikkim, Saga Dawa is among the godliest festivals observed in Sikkim. The Mahayana Buddhists visit monasteries to offer butter lamps and prayers on this day. Sawa Dawa is held on the Buddhist calendar’s fourth month on a full moon night. This festival happens in Gangtok.
Losar Festival
The Tibetan New Year is called Losar. This festival comes with a lot of merrymaking, feasting, and gaiety. The festival takes place in February.
Bumchu Festival
The people of Sikkim observe the Bumchu Festival with full zeal and grandeur at the Tashiding Monastery located in West Sikkim. Bum stands for ‘vase or pot’ and the meaning of chu is ‘water’. The Lamas of the monastery fill the pot with sacred water and open it. They distribute the water to the devotees present. After that, they refill the pot and seal it for the coming year’s celebration. The water level in the pot hints at the prosperity of the next year.
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival
Hee Bermiok Tourism Festival is an annual festival that takes place in the city of Hee Bermiok, situated close to Gangtok. The festival commenced in 2005. People from various parts of India visit Sikkim in May to join this carnival.
Tihaar Festival
Tihaar is an exciting festival. It is the Sikkimese version of Diwali. So, people light up their homes with all kinds of lights and wear colorful outfits.
Art and Craft practiced in Sikkim
The craft, art and culture of Sikkim are famous all over India. The people are artistic by nature and there are plenty of craft and art forms. Most people of this state (especially the ones staying in the countryside) spend their spare time making utility objects. It is one of their old traditions. Some popular handicraft items found in Sikkim are wall hangings, wind chimes, dream catchers, woolen carpets, and choksee tables. They design all kinds of products with bamboo and cane. The handicraft items delineate paintings on diverse aspects of Sikkim.
The womenfolk of Sikkim are skilled weavers. The Government has opened an Institute of Cottage Industries to support the cottage industries in the state. The demand for their handmade carpets is huge all over India. So, if you are in Sikkim, make sure you purchase some souvenir items like singing bowls, prayer flags, Thangka paintings, Sikkimese cups, Buddhist figurines, and silver jewelry. Gangtok, Namchi, and Melli are the best places to purchase handloom products and explore cottage industries.
Dances and music in Sikkim
Folk dances and songs are an inseparable part of the culture of Sikkim. The tribal dance styles depict the state’s harvest season. The harvest season symbolizes prosperity and well-being. So, people have composed many songs to describe their happiness and gratitude toward nature.
The dances are accompanied by chanting and traditional musical instruments. The bright-colored costumes worn by dancers will grab your attention. They also wear traditional masks to complete the look. Kagyed Dance, Chi Rmu, Enchey Chaam, Gha To Kito, Tashi Zaldha, Lu Khangthamo, Be Yu Mista, Rechungma, and Gnungmala Gnunghey are some prominent dance forms. Watching lamas dressed in painted masks, sparking jewels, and ceremonial swords and dancing to the rhythm of drums and horns will be an experience of a lifetime.
10 lesser-known facts about Sikkim
- Sikkim derived its name from two words su and hum. It means a new abode. Sikkim is known as Drenjong in Lebanese Language, meaning ‘the valley of rice’.
- The state flower of Sikkim is the noble orchid and the state animal is the red panda. However, musk deer and yak are the most found animals in the state.
- Kanchenjungha, the third largest peak in the world, lies in the Indian state of Sikkim. Situated at an awe-inspiring altitude of 8,586m, it is India’s highest peak. Gurudongmar Lake and Tsomgo Lake are two other heritage sites in Sikkim and are profoundly scenic.
- “Chaam” is a fascinating kind of ritual dance performed by the sacred Lamas. It involves various musical instruments and lively attires.
- It is the first Indian state that has implemented organic farming and is India’s highest producer of cardamom. The Swachh Survekshan Gramin declared Sikkim the cleanest Indian state in 2016.
- There are many hot springs in Sikkim known for their therapeutic and medicinal properties. Ralang, Yumey Samdong, and Borang are some renowned hot springs.
- More than 80% of Sikkim remains covered in forests. Sals, bananas, and figs are common at lower elevations. Pines, maples, and oak trees grow in abundance in the higher altitudes.
- The total number of glaciers present in Sikkim is 84. Hence, it has the largest number of glaciers in comparison to other Indian states and union territories.
- With an impressive length of 198m, the Singshore Bridge in Sikkim’s Pelling is the second most remarkable bridge in Asia. You must visit this scaffold as it offers breathtaking views of overpowering cascades, verdant slopes, and green valleys.
- Darjeeling, the most crowded hill station of West Bengal, was Sikkimese hill station. The British East India Company included Darjeeling with West Bengal in 1835.
The Takeaway
So, Sikkim is a picturesque land of manifold races and tribes of people residing together. Living harmoniously, the various tribes of Sikkim celebrate their social, linguistic, and cultural commonness as well as dissimilarities.
The next time you visit Sikkim, it will be easier for you to observe and appreciate the culture of Sikkim. You too can join the natives and participate in their festivals. The hospitability of the warm-hearted people of the mountains is unmatchable.
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