Sikkim — Culture,
Heritage & Language
Kanchenjunga, monasteries, organic farming
Introduction
Sikkim, nestled around the Kanchenjunga, is India's first fully organic state and a Buddhist Himalayan kingdom that joined the Indian Union in 1975. Monasteries, alpine lakes and ethnic Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali communities define it.
Quick Facts
Capital
Gangtok
Largest City
Gangtok
Official Language
Nepali
Formation Date
16 May 1975
Area
7,096 sq km
Population
700,000+
Region
Northeast
Type
State
Language
Nepali is the most widely spoken and an official language; Sikkimese, Lepcha, Limbu, Tamang, Gurung and English also enjoy official status for various purposes.
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Traditional Dress
Bhutia men wear Bakhu (a robe); Lepcha men wear Thokro-Dum; Nepali men wear Daura-Suruwal. Women wear Kho, Dumvum and Pharia respectively.
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Festivals
Losar, Saga Dawa, Pang Lhabsol, Bumchu, Dasain, Tihar and Maghe Sankranti reflect the state's plural traditions.
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Cuisine
Momos, Thukpa, Phagshapa, Gundruk, Sael Roti, Sha Phaley and Chhurpi cheese.
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Literature
Lepcha folktales, Bhanubhakta Acharya's Nepali tradition and modern writers like Indra Bahadur Rai and Prajwal Parajuly.
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Art Forms
Thangka painting, Chaam mask dances, carpet weaving, choksee table craft and the traditional Maruni dance.
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Historical Importance
Namgyal dynasty ruled from 1642; protectorate of British India, then of independent India; abolished monarchy and joined the Indian Union as the 22nd state in 1975.
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