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People of Sikkim |
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Lepcha|
Bhutia |
Nepali | |
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Sikkim is a multi-ethnic state.
Broadly, the population can be divided into Tribal
and Non- Tribal groups. The people from the plain
mostly involved in Trade and services represent a
marginal group. As per the 2001 census of India, the
total population of the state is 5, 40,493, whereas
in 1991 it was 4, 06,457 only. Decadal population
growth has gone up for 1991-01 to 32.98% .as in
1981-91 it was only 28.47%. The overall density of
population in the state is 76 per sq. km. East
district is the most populated as North's density
with only 7, is least populated. Sex ratio (Females
per thousand Male) is 875. The State (at National
Level) has the literacy rate 69.68% (16th),
Fertility rate 2.75 (12th), Infant Mortality rate 52
(13th), Index of Social & economic infrastructure
108.99 (9th), Plan expenditure in social sector
45.38% (4th), Access to safe drinking water in % of
households 73.19 (6th), Per capita consumption of
electricity 182 Kw H (25th), & Per capita income is
Rs.11,356 ( 14th).There are 166 Panchayats and 453
Revenue Blocks , which comprise of 32 Assembly
Constituencies. |
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 The
Lepchas
It is an established fact that the earliest
inhabitants of the land were the Lepchas. The
Lepchas were food gathering people who claimed they
came from Mayel, a legendary kingdom on the slopes
of Khangchendzonga. They lived in close harmony with
nature, for she gave them all they needed—the flesh
of animals, fruits, medicinal herbs, honey and
fibres that could be woven in fabric. They called
themselves, Rong Pa literally meaning ravine folk or
the Mutanchi, meaning the beloved people of the
mother earth. |
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The Lepchas also call themselves
as Rongkup (Children of Rong) followed Bongthing and
worshipped the spirits of mountains, forests and
rivers that is to say nature in general. They are a
simple people in rhythm with nature. They speak
Lepcha language - the most ancient language. The
Lepchas are mongoloid in appearance with oblique
eyes small in stature and fair in complexion who are
amiable, cheerful, hospitable, shy, good humoured,
sociable, indolent, docile and peace loving. Most of
them are concentrated in the Dzongu valley of North
Sikkim. They used to live on hill tops "which cannot
be reached easily”. They lived in hunting, fishing,
trade and later agriculture. They are also good
entomologists in identifying the names and behaviour
of the wild animals, birds, insects, fishes, frogs,
medicinal herbs and also at ease to distinguish all
the edible roots, bulbs, fruits and plants of the
jungle from that of the poisonous ones. The Lepchas
are expert weavers and cane craftsmen and very handy
with the bow and arrow. These days they follow
Buddhism and some are converted to Christianity. |
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The Lepchas have their own script
and language. Agriculture is their main occupation
and cardamom, cinnamon, paddy and oranges are their
main crops. The Lepcha tribe is now spread in all
parts of Sikkim because of network of roads,
communications, education and seeking government
jobs. They are marching forward with the rest of the
fellow citizens of the State. |
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The language of Lepchas is
recognised by the Government of Sikkim and is taught
up to Graduate level. They have held many important
posts during the rules of various Maharajas of
Sikkim and now they have come to the level of
bureaucrats, ministers and hold other covetable
posts under Government of Sikkim. In Sikkim
legislative Assembly, 12 seats are reserved for
Lepchas and Bhutias. |
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 The
Bhutias
The Bhutias came to Sikkim sometime in the 15th
century and are mainly descendants of the early
settlers from Tibet and Bhutan. They accompanied
ancestors of the first Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal.
They settled in higher altitude, driving the Lepchas
into the forests and lower valleys. The Bhutias are
sturdy and well built with a good physique and
mongolian features. The Bhutia villages are big and
are arranged in tiers on undulating hills. They are
followers of Buddhism and the monasteries occupy
predominant place and play an important role in the
socio-cultural life of the Bhutias. They prefer to
live in patriarchal joint family. The Bhutia
families are known as the category of village
headmen and Landlords or Kazis. |
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The Bhutias promoted Jhooming
(shifting) cultivation as they possessed plenty of
cultivable lands and sowed paddy, kodo (millet),
maize and other cereals. The Bhutias have imbibed
the Tibetan Civilization in regard to their dresses,
ornaments, religion and scripts. Their language is
Sikkimese language (Bhutia language) and they follow
Buddhism. The Bhutia language is taught up to degree
level. University of North Bengal has included
Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo languages since 2000 as
Modem Indian languages. Sikkimese Bhutia language is
a State recognised language. |
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Monasteries, prayer flags, prayer
wheels and chortens are much a part of the lives of
the Bhutias as faith in reincarnation. Earlier every
Bhutia family had a male member who joined the
monastery and led the life of a monk because the
monks are considered the intellectual elite of the
Bhutia Society and education was the sole preserve
of the monasteries. |
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The Bhutias are fond of their
CHAANG - an indigenous drink which is a preparation
from fermented millet served in a bamboo containers
called TONGBA with hollow bamboo pipe. It is an
indispensable part of every Sikkimese ceremony. The
Bhutias are expert weavers and the hand-woven rugs,
carpets and blankets are very famous and quite high
in demand. All Bhutia art and paintings are derived
from Buddhist spirituality and the most famous are
the THANGKAS. The Bhutia craftsmen are known for the
intricately carved statues, objects of worship and
Choktses-the carved tables. |
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The Bhutia Calendar follows the
Tibetan Buddhist calendar which has 12 years and 60
year cycles. The 12 years are named after 12 animals
and the combination with 5 elements (namely wood,
water, iron, fire and earth) is used for the 60 year
cycles. |
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Today the Bhutia society is
'undergoing subtle changes owing to education,
culture, social events, government jobs, political
and constitutional safeguards and government
employment. Many of them are serving in very high
administrative posts and Ministership. The Bhutias
along with Lepchas have 12 seats reserved in the
State Legislative Assembly. |
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 The
Nepalese
The Nepalese comprise over 70 percent of Sikkim’s
population. They began to settle down in Sikkim
since the last two decades of 19th century. Their
settlement in Sikkim was encouraged by the British.
The Nepali community of Sikkim is a mélange of
various castes and a highly stratified society,
speaking their own vernacular and having a culture
of their own. They are divided into the Bahuns,
Chettris, Newars, Mangers, Murmis, Rais, Limbus,
Tamangs, Gurungs and scheduled caste namely Kamis,
Damais and Sarkis. The New Nepali settlers were
invited and brought as an agrarian force and
promoters of sharecrops. They introduced the terrace
farming to give the landscape an unimpeachable
beauty and a sensible agricultural system which
suited very much the terrain of Sikkim. |
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Nepali language-the lingua-franca
of the State is spoken by all communities in Sikkim.
This language is widely taught in schools and
colleges in the State. It has received
Constitutional recognition in the year 1992 and is
included in the VIIIth schedule of the Constitution
of India. Nepali language and literature are taught
upto Ph.D level in Calcutta University, University
of North Bengal, Allahabad and Banaras Hindu
University. |
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It is essential here to point out
that there are many people from other states of
India settled in Sikkim. Firstly, the Marwaris who
belong to business community, who came to promote
trade via Sikkim to Tibet and later also in Sikkim.
They have settled in Sikkim since long. Besides
Marwaris there are people from Bihar and Haryana.
These communities are also involved in business and
other associated works and allied professions. Rest
of the people from other States are employed in
Central and State Government jobs and in other
professional areas like teaching and other technical
areas. |
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It is also interesting to note
that there are many Tibetans settled in Sikkim and
their status is same as prevalent in other parts of
the Country. Still the Tibetans feel comfortable and
are very much at home because of the similar
culture, language, traditions, religion followed in
Sikkim by the ethnic Sikkimese Bhutias and Lepchas |
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Festivals of Sikkim |
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Sonam Losoong (Bhutia):
Sonam Losoong is a New Year celebration of Sikkimese
Bhutia, falls on the 1`8th day of 10th month of
Tibetan Lunar Calendar, when the harvesting season
is over. On the occasion pujas are performed for
peace and prosperity for the new year. The festival
continues for 15 days.. Kagyed dance (Monastic
dance) preceds the Lossong festival. Nyempo Guzom,
which also falls during Lossong, is considered most
inauspicious occasion. And no good works or venture
are made during the period. |
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Tendong Lho Rum Faat : (
Worship of Mt. Tendong) is one of the oldest
festivals of the Lepchas. According to Donkit Karch
(Lepcha Calendar, this festival falls on "Purveem
Lovo", the seventh month of the calendar,
corresponding to August 8, every year. |
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Sakewa: (Rai)
Sakewa is one of the important festivals of Kirat
Rai Community, which is celebrated annually in the
month Baisak. The nine day long ceremony starts from
the full moon day of Baisak, in which mother earth
is worshipped. The Sakewa Puja is usually performed
by the Nakchhong (priest) with the help of mongpas
in a open place as community puja. |
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Mha Puja (Newar) The
worship of inner self, Mha Puja, is an important
festival of New people. Mha puja is performed for
purification, strengthening and understanding of
oneself. It also exposes relationship between human
and the nature and its cosmos. |
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Dassai (Nepali) The
fortnight long festival usually falls in the month
of October, in which Goddess Durga is worshipped. |
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Tyohar : Just after
fortnight of celebration of Dassai, Tyohar is
celebrated. The day marks the return of Hindu God
Ram to his capital after vanquishing Ravana in a
bloody battle at Lanka. The day is also observed as
Laxmi Puja, the festival of lights. Bhaitika is a
unique feature of Tyohar festival in which sisters
prays for the betterment and long life of their
brothers. |
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Maghey Sakkranti: Like in
other parts of the country, Maghey Sankranti is also
observed in the month of January. It is celebrated
on the first day of the month of Magh (January)
continues for three days: It is one of the holy
festivals of Hindus. Huge fairs are organised along
the river banks and confluence of the rivers,
Jorethang, Saramsa, Rorathang and Triveni are the
important places where such fairs are held every
year. The rituals are solemnised from dawn at the
banks of the rivers, which is indeed a rare spectle
to watch. |
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Chaite Dassain/ Ram Nawami:
This religious festival is usually observed in the
month March. The day signifies the birth of Lord
Rama. |
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Namsoong : Namsoong
Festival is celebrated by the Lepchas of Sikkim
which also coincides with the Sonam Lossong festival
of Bhutias. According to Dungkit Karchu (Lepcha
Calendar), Namsoong festival begins from 1st day of
the "Kurneet Lovo", corresponding to the month of
December/January every year. The festival continues
for seven days. |
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Sunwar (Mukhia alias Koinch)
Sagoon : This is a minor puja ceremony done
twice a year by Natso with Syamboo, incense, Bospati
to propitiate the Sunwar gods and spirits of the
death ancestors. |
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Chhengoo: During the puja
Poibos invoke Sunwar deities and the spirits of the
dead camping temporarily in a monastery after death. |
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Kash: An expensive worship
which lasts for three days. |
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Geel: This is a greatest and
most puja ceremony of f Sunwars which requires
sacrificing 360 birds and animals. |
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Chandee: This ceremony is
performed in the month of Vaisak full day with pomp
and grandeur. |
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Tamu Lochar (Gurung) Tamu
Lochar is one of the traditional festivals of the
Gurung Community. It marks the beginning of the
Gurung New Year which falls on the 15th day of Pusa,
according Vikram Sambat and 30th December in English
Calendar. The festival is celebrated with the family
and community as a whole. |
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Sonam Lochar (Tamang)
Sonam Lochar is an important festival of Tamang
community. The festival falls in the month January
and February (Magha Sukla Pakcha) Spring saeason.
Like other communities, the Tamangs also celebrate
their festival with great joy and religious fervor
which lasts for five to fifteen days from place to
place. |
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Barahimzong (Mangar)
Barahimizong is observed on the fifth day of Mangar
Purnima. In Mangar language Barahi means God, Minaat
or Mi means worship or prayer and 'Zong' means fort.
The Barahimizong has been named affter the day of
Mangar worship their forefathers or Kul Devtaasl. |
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Losar (Tibetan New Year)
Accoding to the Tibetan lunar calendar the first day
of the first month of Tibetan Calendar corresponding
with English Calendar the month of February-March.
They offer prayers and welcome The New Year. |
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