Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sikkim
Sikkim
By Ashima Mathur
SOCIAL STRUCTURE
Sikkim today is a rapidly evolving society. Its major towns like
Gangtok the capital city, Namchi and Jorethang already are
urbanizing at a steady pace. More and more people are being
attracted by business opportunities and gradually imbibing the
cosmopolitan character.
Though Sikkim is predominantly a Buddhist state its spirit is secular
and here churches, monasteries, gurdwaras, mosques and temples
co-exist peacefully. It is hard to define the true culture of Sikkim. It
could best be called a wonderful mosaic, a unique pattern made
beautiful by the unusual harmony in its individually colourful threads.
And that is its trait. The predominant communities are the Lepchas,
the Bhutias and the Nepalese and over the years there have been
Inter-racial marriages among the three.
The Lepchas are very peace loving people, deeply religious and shy,
which characteristics they still have retained. They were in fact the
children of nature, and worshipped nature or spirits of nature. These
Lepcha lived quite close to the nature by way of leading sustenance.
The three Lepcha youth are also involved in the preservation of their cultural
communities - the heritage. Buddhist monk Likdem Lepcha (pictured here) runs an
Lepchas, the Bhutias orphanage and school for underpriviledged boys from the Upper
and the Nepalese. Dzongu region.
Like all other ancient tribes, besides being skilled hunters, Lepchas
could have been painstaking food gatherers once. Our first
knowledge of this ancient people comes across when they were
People
already practicing shifting or jhoom cultivation. Clearing new forest
The Lepchas lands every few years the Lepchas cultivated two types of dry-land
paddy called Dumbra and Ongrey-Zo, Mongbree, a kind of millet,
and Kunchung, or maize eaten in different forms, were other main
The Lepchas are the natives of agricultural products. Zo-Mal or rice was meant only for important
Sikkim with very little known occasions like wedding, house warming and celebrating the
about their origin. A theory has it Nambun, Lepcha New Year.
that the Lepchas moved in from
the borders of Assam and Burma
while another speaks of them Lepchas have their own script but most of their ancient literary
migrating from Southern Tibet. works, called namthars, are found recorded in Tibetan script.
But basically they are of Gazetteer of Sikkim mentions that it was the third Chogyal, Chador
mongoloid stock. Namgyal who invented the Lepcha script. But the Lepchas believe
that their script existed even before the reign of Chador Namgyal.
The tribe were nature worshippers and belonged to the Bon
faith. It was later that they converted to Buddhism and much
later to Christianity. In order to preserve their tribe and their
tradition the government also has a reserved area for the
Lepchas at Dzongu that has been declared restricted area.
The Bhutias The Nepalis
Bhutias are warm hearted and simple people. They prefer living in joint
families . A Bhutia is called Khin which is built in rectangular shape. Bhutias
follow tantric Bhuddhism and legal system among the Bhutias is named as
the Dzuma which means the rendezvous point of the common masses. Pipon
is the village headsmen under whom Dzumsa works.
It ensures law and order and is responsible for conservation of practises such
as grazing , cultivation programs and the seasonal development of the
community. Agariculture is the main source of occupation among bhutias.
Bhutias usually practice intermarriage within their clans and follow Warfare between Tibetan and Chinese since 1949 to 1962 let to division
hierarchical system of bride and groom selection . of culture and trade between the sources. People were forced to become
refugee and had to change their means of livelihood.
The main festival celebrated by Bhutia Tribes are Loser and Losoong. The
first week of the February is Losar as it marks the beginning of the Tibetan Since then interaction and intermixing of culture between Tibet and
new year. During this festival the evening act of Fire Metho takes place. Sikkim has come to an end.
Losoong is celebrated at the end of the harvest season and also the end of
the Tibetan year. It is uaually at the end of the tenth Tibetan lunar month. The Nepalese who migrated from Nepal from the mid-nineteenth century
form the dominant population. It was the British who patronized the
It is the most important festival among the Bhutia tribes in India. During thus Nepalese for their warlike qualities and integrity and raised an entire army
festival Chaandancing and merrymaking at the monasteries at Palace , consisting purely of Nepalese soldiers. They were also allowed to settle
Phodong and Rumtek are enjoyed by the tribe. down in the hill tracts belonging to British India. In Sikkim the Chogyal
had granted a lease to some Nepalese traders sometime in the year
1860. It was these traders who reaped bountiful harvests in the fertile
lands of Sikkim with the help of Nepalese farmers who later settled down
completely. These early Nepalese settlers introduced terraced farming in
the region and also brought the cardamom along with them which
became a prized cash crop. The Kiratis who are also Nepalese are also
believed to be the natives of Sikkim along with the Lepchas. The Kiratis
include the Limbus, Rais, Tamangs, Gurungs, Magars and others. The
Nepalese speak the Nepali language written in the Devanagri script and
Their main sport is archery competition and stage fights passing through the is the major language spoken in Sikkim. The Nepalese are mostly Hindus
crounds wih the fire torch add more excitement to the festival though we can also find Buddhists and Christians among them too.
One of the major outcome of this warfare was ambiguity regarding water
source which is travelling from China and flows towards Bangladesh
across India.
The Yarlung Tsangpo emerges from the Angsi Glacier in Tibet at a height of
5,210 metres and flows across southern Tibet before entering Arunachal
Pradesh. Here it is known as the Siang until it meets the Lohit. It is then
called the Brahmaputra. This first merges with the Ganga and then the
Meghna in Bangladesh and finally empties into the Bay of Bengal.
A look at the schematic of the river tells us that while nearly half of the river
flows through Tibet, its catchment there is a cold desert. So the river has
comparatively lesser water flowing through it as it enters India. It is the one-
third of the catchment area that is in India that receives 3,000 mm of rain
annually and significantly contributes to water in the Brahmaputra.
China has planned 29 dams in the Chinese part of the Yarlung Tsangpo
basin, including the main river and its tributaries, while the Brahmaputra
Board's master plan approved by the Government of India in 1997 has
proposed 168 dams in the Indian part of the basin.
Enchanting Music
Rechungma
It is typical Sikkimese dance performed during the happy occasions like
childbirth, marriage and other social gatherings, offer paying their sincere
thanks to the god for his blessings.
TRADITIONAL ATTIRE OF SIKKIM
Phagshapa
Phagshapa is strips of
pork fat stewed with
radishes and dried
chillies.
Sael Roti BIBLIOGRAPHY
This Nepali cuisine is prepared by grinding
a mixture of rice and water into a paste.
The paste is then poured into hot oil and
deep fried. It is normally eaten with potato
CUSINE OF SIKKIM
curry. Normally not available in restaurants
http://www.sikkimdarjeeling.com/foodofsikkim.htm
but is widely prepared during parties. http://www.indianetzone.com/25/foods_drinks_sikkim.htm
ATTRIRE OF SIKKIM
http://www.slideshare.net/Shreshtha0000/patterns-of-
consumption-of-clothes-in-gangtok-sikkimindia
http://www.nelive.in/himalayan-state-sikkim/art-
culture/colourful-sikkim-their-traditional-attire
Niguru with Churpi
Niguru is a local fiddlehead
fern and its tendrils when
light with churpi (cheese) TOURISM
forms an irresistible dish. http://www.sikkimtourismindia.com/
Normally not available in http://www.esikkimtourism.in/gangtok-tour-packages/
restaurants but is prepared
as a household dish.
DANCE AND MUSIC
www.north-east-india.com Sikkim Culture
www.bharatonline.com Sikkim Sikkim Culture
Gundruk
Gundruk are leaves of the mustard oil POLITICAL AMBIGUITY
plant that have been allowed to decay tibet.net/2016/04/water-war-this-river-could-sink-china-india-relations/
for some days and then dried in the
sun. these dried leaves are then
cooked along with onions and
Chang (Thomba)
Chang is a local beer with is made
by fermenting millet using yeast. It
is sipped from a bamboo
receptacle using a bamboo pipe.
The receptacle which has millet in
it is topped with warm water a
couple of times unit the millet loses
its potency. Chang can sometimes
be strong and very intoxicating
indeed.
ECONOMY AND LAND-USE
Namrata Agarwal
A1904013111
G6 - Gangtok
ECONOMY
Agriculture : Sikkims economy is largely agrarian, based on traditional Hospitality : The hospitality industry is the largest industry in Gangtok as
farming methods, on terraced slopes. The rural populace grows crops such the city is the main base for Sikkim tourism. Summer and spring seasons are
as cardamom, oranges, apples, tea and orchids. Rice is grown on terraced the most popular tourist seasons. Many of Gangtok's residents are employed
hillsides in the southern reaches. Sikkim has the highest production and directly and indirectly in the tourism industry, with many residents owning and
largest cultivated area of cardamom in India. working in hotels and restaurants.
In recent years, the government of Sikkim has promoted tourism. Sikkim has
a vast tourism potential and by tapping into this the state has grossed an
earnings windfall. With the general improvement in infrastructure, tourism is
slated to be the mainstay of the Sikkims economy.
MG Marg (Road) is one of the main shopping and cultural activity streets in
Gangtok
CARDMOM CROPS BREWERY
The state has an impressive growth rate of 8.3%, which is the second
highest in the country after Delhi.
Online Gambling : The state has recently invested in is online gambling. RUMTEK MONASTERY
The Nathula Pass : The Nathula Pass, located about 50 km from Gangtok,
used to be the primary route of the wool, fur and spice trade with Tibet and
spurred economic growth for Gangtok till the mid-20th century. In 1962, after
the border was closed during the Sino-Indian War, Gangtok fell into
recession. The pass was reopened in 2006 and trade through the pass is
expected to boost the economy of Gangtok. The Sikkim government is keen
to open a LhasaGangtok bus service via Nathula pass. In 2013 premier
Indian publishing company Thomson Digital opened its production unit in
Gangtok. Thus becoming first MNC to venture there and paving path for
future private companies to explore potential of young workforce of Gangtok.
LAND-USE
Land-Use : The highest growth rate has been seen in the industrial sector,
which shows a growth rate of 363.41% from 1985-1995, this is mainly due to
coming up of new industries along the NH-31A, there has also been
considerable increase in the transport and recreational sector, however
residential, commercial and public uses have been growing at a slower pace.
STRUCTURAL CONSIDERATION
Design Considerations Climatic Consideration
The buildings are designed to allow interaction between the residents and nature. Ecohousing is a characteristic that isnt restricted to contemporary architecture.
The public and semi private spaces are outward looking and allow the outside to Many conventional buildings incorporate sustainable elements, or, at the very least,
part of the users space. energy efficiency. But in contemporary architecture, these elements are required.
Gangtok has cold winters, heavy monsoon and mild summer. For this kind of
climate, having a building with ample sunlight is crucial, especially in a residential
one. The urban fabric of Gangtok is such that there are buildings very close to each
other and no place for light and ventilation.
There is also allows Ventilation and light is available in plenty even when the
weather is harsh and unrelenting.
There is clear distinction between private and public spaces with a smooth
transition through buffer semi private areas. They are visually linked to public
and private areas. This makes the house open and a coherent whole visually.
Material EXAMPLES
The materials used in the building draw inspiration from the traditional ones used in
the region. The warmth of wood complements the stability of the granite. This
Mimani Residence, Gangtok
together with modern materials like glass and GI sheet roofing is a good mix of
aesthetics and utility.
The building is a single family residence located in Gangtok.
The entrance to the building premises is at the same level as the lowest most
floor. The user climbs up a flight of stairs and as they ascend, the space opens
up into a front yard along with the main entrance. The yard is visible only from
he top of the stairs, not before.
Windows
Larger and more plentiful windows are also a characteristic of contemporary
architecture. Multiple openings and their uncommon positioning, panoramic There is clear distinction between private and public spaces with a smooth
windows, window walls, and skylights have all entered the playing field. transition through buffer semi private areas. They are visually linked to public
One of the consequences of this kind of fenestration, beyond creating and private areas. This makes the house open and a coherent whole visually.
spectacular views, is that it makes full use of the sunlight: first of all as natural
lighting, and secondly, to take advantage of passive solar heating. If you love
natural light or enjoy spectacular views,
Dealing with the Topography- Windows-
The site was sloping on to the road and is surrounded by other buildings. The
Long fenestrations are provided to allow more lights inside the house so
residence is made to accommodate the topography and this context of the site.
as to keep the house warm during winters.
The terrain is used to create a sense of allure.
The site for this project are mostly surrounded by buildings. So the faades on
which sunlight could be brought inside are limited. However, it has been designed Materials-
such that there is sunlight throughout the day. This cuts down on energy required
for heating, which is a major source of energy consumption in winter. Granite, fly ash bricks, wood are the common and the traditional materials
used in Gangtok
A hotel located in Gangtok, Sikkim. It is a 5 1/2 storeyed hotel with 27 rooms. The site is sloping with flora and is built accordingly to maintain the topography
of the area.
Window-
The site is located in Amdo Golai, Deorali Bazaar, Gangtok, on a very
strategic node where the by-pass road connecting Gangtok to the North of The elevation of the building has been designed to allow maximum sunlight
Sikkim, meets N.H.10 heading towards the city .The node is a commercial inside. Gangtok, with its harsh winters and temperatures on the cooler side
hub bearing restaurants, shops and many other institutional buildings. through the year, requires a lot of heating. With sunlight being incorporated into
the building through the design, the need for other methods of heating is
greatly reduced. This cuts the energy requirement of the building.
Besides the strategic location, the site is surrounded by lush green flora which
provides a buffer and a screen from the surrounding. A jhora marks the site
boundary from the adjacent land. A garage is present right next to the building
on a higher level.
Exterior-
Materials used in the elevation like granite and wood lend a perfect blend of BIBLIOGRAPHY
hardess and softess to the facade.
Research paper-
Websites-
www.sikkim-building.gov.in/index.php/about-us-6/2013-05-09-10-55-
Interiors- 58/14-programme/47-hazard-safety-cell-2
A lot of dramatic spaces have been created because of the window design. This
coupled with the natural beauty of the mountains around the site takes the
experience of staying in a hotel up by several notches. pparchitects.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/mimani-residence-gangtok
pparchitects.wordpress.com/2015/04/30/hotel-golden-crest//
bonestructure.ca/en/blog/contemporary-architecture
GANGTOK
-LIFESTYLE AND LIVING CULTURE
Neelema Sharma
A1904013097
Bhutias : Monasteries and monk play a dominant role in the socio cultural life of the Gurungs, Mangers are highly esteemed for their military prowess. Mangar
Bhutias. Most Bhutia families have a male member joining the monastery as a monk. villages are situated in the sparse forest slopes, mainly in South and East
District. They speak in their own Mangari dialect.
Their chief deity is tutelary galaxy of Buddha
and Bodhisattvas, the guardian deities, local Sunuwar :
and family deities. Bhutias are divided into Originally, Sunuwars were hunters, scattered in West, East and South Districts.
two groups, Tong-du-ruzhi with four clans and They have three subgroups Barathares, Dasthares and Jirels. Koicha is their
Bed tsengyed with eight clans although there dialect and script, through most speak in Nepali. Barathsres use this dialect and
are other sub castes. They speak and write in script espically during their rituals.
Derived from the word Damaha(drum), which they play, Damais are identified as wonton are available. Other traditional Sikkimese cuisine include shah-phaley
Darji or Masters as most of them have taken to the profession of tailoring. They (Sikkimese patties with spiced minced meat in a crisp samosa-like case) and Gack-
Lu Khangthamo
Enchey Chaam
It is dedicated to a day of thanks giving to all Gods and deities of the three worlds, Performed by lamas in the 'Gompa'
Heaven, Earth and Hell. This age old folk dance is performed regularly by the young and courtyard to celebrate religious
festivals, dances demonstrate perfect
old folk alike in their traditional customs and ornaments accompanied by the pleasing footwork and grace. Costumed lamas
song and music on the occasion like warming and New Year celebrations. It is a Bhutia with gaily painted masks, ceremonial
swords and sparkling jewels leap and
folk dance. swing to the rhythm of resounding
drums, trumpeting of horns and
Gnungmala Gnunghey chanting of monks.
Gha To Kito
It is a song cum dance which describes all about the treasures of Sikkim like Mount
Khangchendzonga and the snow covered Himalayan ranges, rhododendrons and primulas,
holy places, caves ad minerals. It is a Bhutia folk dance.
CLOTHING
Costumes reflect the social and cultural lifestyle of the major communities namely Lepchas, Nepali, another predominant
Bhutiasand Nepalis . They flaunt costumes with resplendent colours. group of Sikkim, has
sustained the ethnicity of their
Male Clothing own culture in their costume.
The Nepalese men dress
The traditional costume of the Lepcha male is Thokro-Dum which involves a white pajama,
themselves in Shurval, a
stretching only to the calves, Yenthatse, a Lepcha shirt and Shambo, the cap. The texture of
Churidar Pajama, topped off by
the male dress is rough, and long-lasting.
a shirt, known as Daura. It is
associated with Aaskot, wrist
coat and their belt, called
Patuki.
Female Clothing
The Bhutia community, hailing from the adjacent country of Tibet, has over
Lepcha Bhutia years become rooted in the culture and social norms of Sikkim. A Bhutia
woman's general costume consists of Kho or Bakhu, Hanju, a silky full-
sleeve loose blouse, Kushen, a jacket, a different pattern of the cap,
The traditional costume of Bhutia males comprises Kho, also known as Bakhu. It is a loose
Shambo and Shabchu, the shoe. Pangden, the stripy apron, the signifier of
mantle which is tied at the neck on one side, and at the waist region with a silk or cotton belt.
marital status is a symbol of married Bhutia females.
Added to this basic garment, a Bhutia man dons Jya Jya, a waist coat, the shirt, called,
Yenthatse, shirt, Kera, a cloth-belt and Shambo, the cap.
The traditional costume of the Nepali women of Sikkim is endowed with fabulous
hues. Pharia, the saree, gorgeous in vibrant shades, definitely augments the grace
of the Nepali women. The dressing gets the right finish with a long loose blouse, is
fastened from four sides and hence is called Chaubandi Cholo. Another variety in
blouse is the Tharo Cholo.
The other Marwari, Bihari, Bengali or Punjabi communities cater to their traditional
costumes of salwar-kameez dupatta, saree, woolen textiles, and even to Western
outfit, like jeans, T-shirts, trousers, anything which suits their taste and preferences.
Languages
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books