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Sikkim is a state in north-eastern India and is the second smallest state of the country. It borders Tibet in the north and north-east, Bhutan in the east, Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the South. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok.
The state is famous for its beautiful waterfalls, virgin forests, wide variety of flora and fauna, and many more. It also has a number of Buddhist monasteries that are a great attraction for the tourists. The north peak of world’s third highest mountain, Kanchenjunga, lies in Sikkim.
Communities of Sikkim
People living in Sikkim are from different backgrou0nds. It is a homogeneous state. The predominant communities here are Nepalese, Lepchas, and Bhutias.
1. The Nepalese
Even though the Nepalese were the last ones to come to Sikkim and settle, they constitute more than 80% of the total population of Sikkim. As a result, the Nepali language is spoken and understood by most of the people in the state. Their main occupation is agriculture. This community was the one who introduced the terraced system of cultivation in Sikkim. Cardamom is produced on a large scale here and is an important cash crop.
2. The Lepchas
Lepchas are the original and oldest inhabitants of Sikkim. They follow Buddhism and Christianity. Before adopting these religions, they worshipped spirits of mountains, rivers, and forests i.e. nature. They speak their mother tongue, Lepcha. Even though it is not spoken at a large scale in the state, it is rich in vocabulary.
3. The Bhutias
This community is of Tibetan origin. They are major inhabitants of Northern Sikkim. Their villages are almost of the same size as those of the Lepchas and they speak Sikkimese. A major characteristic of this community is the women’s obsession with jewelry made of gold.
Sikkimese Cuisine
Sikkimese cuisine offers a variety of food items, ranging from meat to vegetables. A few of the famous dishes are as follows:
1. Phagshapa
Sikkimese food is generally very spicy. This dish is usually a summer dish. It is prepared using pork and is served hot with rice. It is cooked with subtle chilly, spices, and radish in oil. The primary flavor of this dish is because of the pork fat that is left on the meat.
2. Kodo ko Roti
It is originally a Nepali dish but has been adapted by Sikkim as their own. It is a dish used making bread and is served with pickle, usually tomato pickle. The dough used to make this bread is made using finger millet flour that is kneaded and spread on a banana leaf. It is then baked on a Tawa and served hot.
3. Chaang
It is an alcoholic drink usually tried out by people in the cold weather to keep themselves warm. It is made using fermented cereals and it further passed through a bamboo vessel and a bamboo straw. To extract the flavor, the drink is topped off with warm water.
4. Kinema Curry
This dish is one of the famous dishes of Sikkim because of its wonderful taste as well as the proteins provided by it since it is made using fermented soya beans. Red chili, onion, turmeric powder, and tomatoes are cooked separately and then added to the gravy to enhance its flavor. This dish is great for vegetarians and is served with rice.
5. Chhurpi
Chhurpi is a type of cheese that is produced in Sikkim in both, hard and soft forms. the harder form is sweeter than the softer one and is made using yak’s milk and is, therefore, wither white or brown in color. The softer version of this cheese has a slightly tangy flavor and is made using yak’s, goat’s or cow’s milk.
6. Sael Roti
It is a small pretzel-shaped bread that is usually made during the festive season of Nepal but is a part of the Sikkimese cuisine. It has a ring-like shape. It is a good dish for both, vegetarians and non-vegetarians as it can be eaten with potato curry or mean based curry.
7. Gundrunk and Sinki
This dish is made using fermented vegetables that are sealed up in an air-tight container and then topped out and mixed with other fermented vegetables such as turnips and radish. It can either be eaten as it is or can be added to soups, etc.
Festivals of Sikkim
There are various festivals in Sikkim that are famous worldwide and are celebrated with immense excitement and grace every year. The 2 most important festivals are as follows:
1. Losoong festival
Losoong is the most famous festival of Sikkim. It is the Sikkimese new year. It is also known as Sonam Losoong. It falls on the 18th day of the 10th lunar moon, based on the Tibetan lunar calendar every year.
The main event of this festival is the cham dance. It is a lively and colorful dance which is performed only by monks. They play traditional instruments and dance while wearing masks with traditional attire. This dance symbolizes an offering to the gods.
2. Bhumchu
It is a Buddhist festival that is held on the first full moon in the first month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. On this festival, a sacred pot with holy water, blessed by Ngadak Sempa Chenpo, a Buddhist Lama, is taken. The amount of water in the pot is expected to predict the future of Sikkim for the following year.
It is said that the water in the pot has not dried up for the last 300 years and is still fresh. At this festival, the Bhumchu (pot) is viewed by the people and put up for public display. After the ritual, some water is shared among the monks and is then filled up with water from a nearby river, sealed, and kept safe until the next year.
How do people in Sikkim dress up?
1. Bhutia Tribe- Bakhu/Kho
This clothing material is worn by both men and women. It is similar to other traditional clothing- Tibetan Chuba. The difference between these two is that the Bakhu is sleeveless. It is a loose garb that is tied at the neck and tightened around the waist by a belt made of silk or cotton. It is now worn with a pair of jeans to make it look a little modern as the society is dynamic and everyone needs to adapt themselves to change.
2. Dumvum
This is the traditional attire of women in Sikkim. It is a saree-like garment which is known as Dumvum or Dumyam. The women wear a loose-fitting blouse underneath, a belt called Taro, and a cap is worn to complete the look. A scarf called Gorey is also often used to cover the head.
3. Shuruval
This outfit is typically worn by the Nepalese men residing in Sikkim. It is worn with trousers on a long double-breasted garment. The bottom is called Shuruval, and the shirt is known as Daura. A belt is often worn with the outfit to complete the look. These men also carry a weapon in a leather case known as Daab when they wear this outfit.
4. Pharia
It is a traditional attire worn by Nepalese women of Sikkim. It is a loose blouse that covers the upper body which is further wrapped with a piece of cloth, known as Hembari, that comes in beautiful prints. Usually, this outfit is worn formally, i.e. in functions, weddings, festivals, etc. Women also wear colorful cloth suspended from head to waist while dancing. This cloth is known as Pachauri.
Written by - Hunnar Kaushal
Edited by - Chhavi Gupta
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