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The population of Sikkim comprises mainly of three
ethnic communities, namely Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese, who intermingle
freely to constitute a homogenous blend. Besides these there are
other communities also who have come from the plains and are mainly
involved in business and government services.
THE LEPCHAS
The Lepchas are said to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim. They
existed much before the Bhutias and Nepalese migrated to the state.
It has not yet been established from where the Lepchas are originally
from, though some theories indicate that the Lepchas came from the
border of Assam and Burma. Other theories speak of the Lepchas having
migrated to Sikkim from Southern Tibet. No matter where they came
from, the fact that is clearly established is that they are of Mongoloid
descent.
The Lepchas are predominantly Buddhists but many
of them are also Christians having been converted to this faith
by the missionaries.
Before adopting Buddhism or Christianity as their religion, the
earliest Lepcha settlers were believers in the bone faith or mune
faith. This faith was basically based on spirits, good and bad.
Witch craft and exorcism were very common. They worshipped spirits
of mountains, rivers and forests which was but natural for a tribe
that co-existed so harmoniously with the rich natural surroundings.
The Lepcha (Zongu) folklore is rich with stories.
The well-known deities of the Lepchas are Itbumoo, Rom, Itbu Debu
Rom, Kongchen Konglo and Tamsang Thing, who is said to have invented
the Lepcha script, One major festival of the Lepchas is the Namsoong
which marks the beginning of the New Year. The Lepcha priests are
known as Bomthing and they perform intricate ceremonies to invoke
the blessings of the spirits.
The Lepcha population is concentrated in the central
part of the Sikkim. This is the area that encompasses the confluence
of Lachen and Lachung rivers and Dickchu. They constitute only 13%
of the total population of Sikkim.
Life in a Lepcha dwelling is very simple. A Lepcha
hut is usually made of bamboo and is raised about five feet above
the ground on stilts, with just a couple of rooms.
The male Lepcha wears a dress called a "pagi"
made of cotton, which is stripped. The dress comes down to the knees.
It is fastened on the shoulder by a pin and a belt is worn around
the waist. Lepcha men keep the hair in the form of a plaited pigtail.
The Lepcha women wear two-piece dress. The upper garment or the
blouse is called the Tago whereas the lower part which resembles
a petticoat is called Domdyan.
The Lepchas have their own language and script.
Although this language is not very well developed, it is rich in
vocabulary related to the flora & fauna of Sikkim.. The Lepcha
language is one of the eleven official languages recognized by the
Sikkim government and is taught up to the high school level. The
Lepcha dances, songs and folk tales reflect a wonderful synthesis
between men and nature.
Lepchas are very good at archery.
Interestingly, polyandry marriages are permitted
amongst the Lepchas, although this practice is now becoming very
rare. The nuptial customs are quite intriguing. After both the parties
have evinced interest in establishing marital relations, the boy's
maternal uncle approaches the parents of the girl with some bottles
of liquor, scarf and some money. The marriage can easily be ended
but the husband has to pay some money to the girl's parents.
The Lepchas are the earliest settlers of Sikkim.
They call themselves - "Rongkup", meaning the children
of Rong. Regarding their origin, the anthropologists and historians
are still debating whether the Lepchas belong to one of the Naga
tribes or are associated with the Jimdars and Mech in their eastward
migration from Nepal. Some scholars have found a similarity between
the Lepachas and the tribes in Arunachal Pradesh. Yet some others
contend they are related to the Khasis in Meghalaya. The Lepchas
themselves are convinced that their home has always been the legendary
kingdom of Mayel in the vicinity of Mt. Kangchendzonga. In fact,
most Lepcha clans claim to have mythical connections with particular
mountain peaks which they worship as their deity. Thus the mountains
Simvo, Siniolchu and Khangchendzonga find prominence in the Lepcha
culture.
THE BHUTIAS
The Bhutias are people of Tibetan origin, mainly descendants of
the early settlers in Sikkim from Tibet and Bhutan who accompanied
the ancestors of the first Chogyal, Phuntsok Namgyal. The members
of the former Namgyal dynasty belong to this ethnic group.
The early Bhutias had three distinctive social
classes-the aristocracy, the quasi aristocracy - those belonging
to the leading Bhutia families who were land holders and were called
Kazis - and the commoners. When the monarchy was abolished, these
social distinctions also lost their relevance. They are evenly distributed
throughout the state of Sikkim. In Northern Sikkim, where they are
the major inhabitants, they are known as the Lachenpas and Lachungpas.
They have their own traditional legal system known as Zamsa to settle
disputes. Zamsa means public meeting place and the village headman,
who is also known as the Pipon, metes out justice and is chosen
once a year by the villagers. The Pipon takes all decisions regarding
the village life, for example, when the crops should be harvested.
Tibetan Budhism played a special role in shaping
the Bhutia society. Nearly every Bhutia family has one family member
who became monk. Traditionally the priesthood was regarded as the
intellectual as well as spiritual elite. The monasteries and the
monks are the pivot around whom their daily lives revolve. Every
household ritual, marriage, birth, death ceremonies and agricultural
rites are conducted by the monks from the Gompas which are prominent
in all the Bhutia and Lepcha villages. The faith generated by Buddhism
is total and the devotion of the laity to the monastery is absolute.
The language spoken by the Bhutias is Sikkimese
which is in fact a dialect of Tibetan language. The script is the
same. Bhutia villages are as large as those compared to those of
Lepchas . A Bhutia house called "Khin" is usually of rectangular
shape.
The traditional dress of the male member is known
as the Bakhu which is a loose cloak type garment with full sleeves
and is fastened at the neck on one side and near the waist with
a cotton belt. They wear loose trousers. The traditional dress worn
by the ladies is known as the Honju which is a full sleeve blouse
and a loose gown type garment fastened near the waist tightly with
a belt. At the front, a loose sheet of multi coloured woolen cloth
made of special design is tied. This cloth is called Pangdin and
is a symbol of a married woman.
Like the Lepchas and the Nepalese, the Bhutias
are fond of their "chang", the local brew. This preparation
from fermented millet is served in bamboo containers. It has become
an indispensable part of every Sikkimese ceremony, whether religious
or secular.
The Bhutias are famous for their weaving, wood
carving and theThanka painting. The hand-woven rugs, carpets and
blankets and the exquisite Thankas displayed in the State Handicraft
Centre at Gangtok are proof of this skill.
Marriage in a Bhutia family is arranged through
negotiations by the paternal or maternal uncle of the boy who goes
to the bride's place with gifts to ask for the hand in marriage
for his nephew.
The important festivals observed by the Bhutia
community include Losoong, Pang Lhabsol, Kagyat dance and Saga Dawa.
They constitute 16% of the total population of
Sikkim.
THE NEPALESE
The Nepalese appeared on the Sikkim scene much after the Lepchas
& Bhutias. They migrated from Nepal in large numbers from the
middle of the nineteenth century and soon became the dominant community.
The Nepalese now constitute more than 80 % of the total population.
The Nepalese community of Sikkim is itself a conglomeration
of diverse ethnic groups, some speaking their own vernacular. Nepali
is the lingua franca of all the Sikkimese people. This language
is similar to Hindi and uses the Devanagri script. These ethnic
groups can be roughtly divided between the Magars, Murmis, Tamangs,
Gurungs, Rais, Limbus, Damis, Kamis, Bahuns and the Chhetris.
Most Nepalese are Hindus or Buddhists. Some
of them have also adopted Christianity. The Hindu Nepali populace
of Sikkim follows the ethos which governs its counterparts elsewhere
in the country.
The major festivals of the Hindu Nepalese in Sikkim
are Dasain, Teohar, Makar Sankranti and Baisakhi.
The Nepali settlers introduced the terraced system
of cultivation. Cardamom was an important cash crop introduced by
the Nepalis'. Except for the Sherpas & Tamangs who are Buddhists,
the Nepalis' are orthodox Hindus with the usual cast system.
The Nepali language is spoken and understood all
over the state. This language is similar to Hindi and uses the Devangri
script.
The traditional male nepali dress consists of
long double breast garment flowing below the waist and a trouser
known as "Daura Suruwal". The female dress consist of
a double breasted garment with strings to tie on both the sides
at four places, which is shorter than the Daura and is known as
"Chow Bandi Choli". They also wear a shawl known as "Majetro".
The "Khukri" which has become a synonym
to the Nepali (Gurkha) culture, is a very sharp edged, angled, heavy
weapon carried in a wooden or leather scabbard known as "Daab".
A major sub-cultural group of the Nepalis are
the Kiratis who along with the Lepchas are said to be the aboriginals
of Sikkim. The Kiratis include Limbus, Rais, Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs
and some others as well. The Rais, Limbus, Magars, Murmis, Tamangs
and Gurungs have somewhat similar physical characteristics inasmuch
as they are all Mongoloid. But each group has its own distinctive
culture. Originally most of them were hunters and shepherds and
semi-nomadic. However, having been known for their bravery, a large
number of them have served as soldiers in the British and Indian
armies.
The Limbus who are also called Yakthambas (yak
herders or traders) are divided into three sects: Kashigotra, Bhuiphuta
and the Lhasagotra (Tsongs). Each Kirati sect has a dialect of its
own. The deities of the Limbu community are Sri Janga, Tagyera Ningwa
Poma and Yuma Shamma.
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