People & Culture of Sikkim

People & Culture

The People of Sikkim consist of three ethnic groups, that is, Lepcha, Bhutia and Nepali. Communities of different hues intermingle freely in Sikkim to constitute a homogenous blend. Hindu Temples coexist with Buddhist Monasteries, Churches, Mosque and Gurudwara. The predominant Communities are Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese. These myriad Cultures has produced a quintessential Sikkimese Culture that encompasses all ways and walk of life, but has also managed to preserve their own identity. These can also be seen in the various places of Worship, Festivals and Cultural dances that are celebrated through the year.

Folk Dances

Different communities living in Sikkim have their own folk dances to celebrate their life. The performing arts like folk dances of Sikkim combine all the components of folk culture, namely folk songs, folk musical instruments, traditional dresses, make up and folk dance, and thus exists both in time and space. Most of the folk dances are performed as an essential aspect of the festival. Hence, most of the dances are either ritualistic or simply celebrative. Some folk dances are associated with agriculture operations and some are celebrations of the birthdays of Gods/Goddesses or mythological celebration. Many folk dances although can be performed at any time of the year or at any occasion, like the purely recreational dances, according to the tradition they are performed on particular occasions or festivals.

Lepcha Folk Dances :

Through this romantic dance, story of a young boy and a girl in love is conveyed. A group of boys ask a group of girls for their hands for the purpose of marriage and in turn promise them with rich gifts and ornaments. The girls, however, turn down the offer and ask them to approach their parents, instead. This colourful dance is performed with the support of melodious Lepcha songs and musical instruments such as Sanga (drum), Yangjey (string instrument), Cymbal, Yarka, Flute and Tungbuk.

i)Zo-Mal-Lok 

This famous folk dance of Lepcha community shows normal activities such as sowing, reaping and harvesting of paddy. The old people and young folk alike join hands to sing, dance and indulge in merry making. The graceful movements of male and female dancers become more noticeable with the background of pleasant sounds of seasonal birds. Musical instruments used to support the dance are Tungbuk, Flute, Cymbal, Drum, etc.

ii) Chu-Faat

Literal meaning of Chu is Snowy Range, while that of Faat is Worship. This group folk dance is performed in the honour of Mount Khangchendzonga, the guardian deity of the Sikkimese people. The dancers while carrying butter lamps and green bamboo leaves perform a ritualistic dance by singing devotional songs.

iii) Tendong Lo Rum Faat

It is based on a famous Lepcha folk lore often retold to the new generation of Lepchas in the form of lyrical poetry. According to the legend, this group dance is performed to save people from the onslaught of mighty, mountainous rivers, First, the Lepchas living on the Tendong Hill in South Sikkim are reported to have offered prayers to the God through this dance. They desired the almighty to save them from the disaster of rising water. As per folklore, God came as a bird and began sprinkling sacred millet beer on water. Soon, the level of water subsided and people heaved a sigh of relief.

iv) Kinchum-Chu-Bomsa

This famous folk dance vividly describes the natural beauty of Sikkim, or Ney-Mayel-Lyang (a heavenly, hidden paradise) called so, by the Lepchas. The snow covered mountain peaks, green captivating meadows, enchanting valleys, thick vegetation, rivers and water falls, holy lakes and serene monasteries sanctify this land. The young Lepcha boys and girls show their attachment with the land by performing the dance in their colourful attire.

Bhutia Folk Dances :

i) Denzong-Neh-Na

This group dance comprising of boys and girls is performed to pay homage to the past saints such as Guru Rimpoche and present saints in order to get their blessings. The musical instruments which support the graceful steps of the dancers are: Flute, Yangjey, Drum and Yarka.

ii) Ta-Shi-Yang-Ku

A group of boys and girls through this dance try to invoke benign deities to shower fortunes on their home. They remember some animal deities also to bring good fortune and prosperity to the people. It is also performed during the consecration of a new house and to bless a newly married couple.

iii) Tashi Shabdo

This age old group dance beautifully and gracefully shows the custom of offering Khadas (scarf) on auspicious occasion. The white scarf exchanged by the members of the group during the course of dance is basically a symbol of peace, purity and prosperity. The dancers dance to the melodious tunes duly supported by musical instruments such as Yarka, Drum, Flute and Yangjey.

iv) Guru-Chinlap

Through this particular group dance performed by boys and girls, due respect is shown to the various Buddhist Gurus and Saints of Sikkim and their blessing is requested for overall peace, prosperity and happiness. Exchange of Khadas also takes place between the dancers during the course of the dance.

v) Singhi Chham

In this group dance five boys led by a herdsman dance like legendary Snowlion. The snowlion is a significant cultural symbol of the state. The presence of two snowlions dancing under the guidance of a herdsman looks extremely attractive and enchanting to the viewers. Musical instruments (without any songs) used are Drum, Cymbal, Yarka and Yangjey.

vi) Yak Chham

Through this group dance performed by four male dancers under the command of a herdsman, utility of Yak for a common man living in high altitude areas is shown. The dance begins in slow and measured steps to the clash of cymbals and the sound of the trumpets. The group dance always makes a powerful impact on the audience and appears very attractive to the children. Though Chhams are performed in all the monasteries of Sikkim, the ones performed at Pemayangtse, Rumtek and Enchey being more impressive draw large audience.

Nepali Folk Dances :

i) Maruni

It is one of the oldest and popular group dance forms of the Nepali community, usually performed by three male and three female dancers. In good old days, the role of Maruni, essentially a female character, was enacted by a male. With the change in customs and traditions, female dancers are now performing such a central role. It is performed during the festival of Tihar in the courtyard of each house. The steps of the dancers look very graceful in the background of soothing songs ably supported by musical instruments such as Harmonium, Madal, Flute and Ghoongur.

ii) Chutkay

Through this romantic group dance, performed by a group of male and female dancers, joys of life and feeling of happiness is shared during the harvesting season and on some other happy occasions.

iii) Dohori

This group dance of Gurung community is usually performed by three male and three female dancers. In a traditional setting, after a hard days work, the dancers would assemble at 'RodiGhar' (a sort of entertainment centre) and exchange their views through songs and dance. The musical instruments used are Madat Flute and Ghoongur.

iv) Jeurum Silly

By means of this group dance of Rai community, performed by one man and four women, feelings of family members and friends is expressed on the occasion of a girl's marriage. The dancers aim to protect the Lakshmi (prosperity) of the house. Youth and old alike also join the dancers. Dhol and Jhamta are the two musical instruments used.

v) Tamang Selo

This group dance of Tamang community with robust foot tapping and elaborate sound and display of Damphu instrument is performed on all happy occasions. It highlights vigour and vitality of the community. Tamang songs known as ' Hwai' are full of human emotions. These are so popular that no Nepali merrymaking is considered complete without singing a Tamang song.

vi) Lakhey (Mask) Dance

This group mask dance of Newar (Pradhan) community is performed to ward off evil spirits and to bring peace and prosperity. The musical instruments which support the dance form are Khe( Dhol), Jhali and Dhimay.

vii) Naumati

In this beautiful group dance of Damai community nine kinds of musical instruments are used to perfection. These are two types of Senai ( Shehnai), Turhi, small and big, Damaha (Nagara) of two types, Tuyamko (Small Dhol) of two types, Dholki and Jhyamta (cymbal). The Naumati Baja is a regular feature during the wedding and other auspicious occasions.

viii) Chyap-Brung Dance

Chyap-Brung is the traditional musical instrument of the Limboo community. It is like a Dholak in shape but much bigger in size. During the course of group dance, male dancers hang the instrument around their necks with the help of a rope and beat the drum with an open palm on one side and a stick on the other. Such a manoeuvre produces two different sounds which echo boldly in valleys and mountains.

ix) Dhaan Nach

This group dance performed by four men and four women with the backing of harmonium, madal, flute and ghoongur shows the symbol of good and firm spirit of farmers against rain and scorching heat. In order to break the monotony of routine field work, men and women attempt merrymaking through song and dance. It is a ritualistic dance performed by the youth and old alike in traditional costumes, since time immemorial.

Sikkimese Cuisine

Hot steamed flour dumplings filled with minced meat, cheese or vegetable, accompanied by home made chilli sauce and piping hot soup. Yes, we are talking about the Momo, the most commonly available food in Sikkim. From roadside shacks to the most expensive restaurants, you will find Momos on every menu. Another popular and easily available item is the Thukpa orGya-thuk, a typical Tibetan style noodles in soup, based with vegetables or meat.

But Sikkimese cuisine is much more than just Momos and Thukpa, with every community having their own special way of cooking, using ingredients typical to them. This results in a wide variety of dishes, each with a unique taste and flavour.

The Nepalese prepare a special kind of bread, mostly during festivals called the Saelroti. This is prepared from fermented rice batter which is deep fried in a ring shape and eaten with potato curry or meat or simply by itself.

Fermented food, in fact, is an important element of many Sikkimese dishes.

Chhurpi, a fermented dairy product prepared from cow milk with a mild sour taste is used for making soups and Achar. It is often used with Ningro, a wild fern to make a most exotic combination.

Kinema, a fermented soybean food, rich in protein and with a unique flavour is eaten with rice while Gundruk and Sinki are two traditional fermented vegetable products which are sun dried after fermentation and stored for consumption. These are later used for soups, curries and pickles.

Bamboo shoot is another commonly used ingredient in local food. This can vary from fresh bamboo shoot called Tama, which is often used with pork to make an irresistible curry to Mesu, a traditional fermented bamboo shoot product used to make pickles.

But the most exotic local dish is surely Sishnu Soup, prepared from leaves of edible wild varieties of nettle.

Accompanying the food often is Chaang, a fermented cereal-based alcoholic beverage. It is sipped from a bamboo receptacle using a thin bamboo pipe. The receptacle which has millet in it is topped with warm water a few times until the millet loses its flavour. No visit to Sikkim is complete till you try this at least once.