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GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Location & Topography: Located in the eastern Himalayas, Sikkim
is bounded by Tibet (China) in the north, West Bengal in the
south, Tibet and Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The
state is spread below Mount Kanchendzonga (8534 m), the third
highest peak in the world. The locals worship the mountain as a
protective deity. The elevation of the state ranges from 300 m
to over 8540 m above sea level.34% of Sikkim Geographical are is
under protected areas. Climate Due to the extreme altitude,
there is an immense variation in climate and vegetation. With a
rainfall of about 140 inches in Gangtok, the climate is tropical
up to 5,000 ft, temperate between 5,000 ft-13,000 ft, alpine at
13,000 ft, and snowbound at 16,000 ft. The best time to visit
Sikkim is between mid-March and June but especially, April and
May, when the rhododendrons and orchids bloom. However,
temperatures can be high, especially in the valleys. During the
monsoons, from the end of June until early September, rivers and
roads become impenetrable, though plants nurtured by the
incessant rain erupt again into bloom towards the end of August.
October, when incessant rain erupt again into bloom towards the
end of August. October, when orchids bloom once again, and
November tend to have the clearest weather of all. As December
approaches, it gets bitterly cold at high altitudes, and remains
that way until early March, despite long periods of clear
weather.
FLORA AND FAUNA
The gigantic mountain walls and steep-wooded hillsides of Sikkim
are drained by torrential rivers such as the Teesta and the
Rangit, and are a botanist's dream. The lower slopes abound in
orchids. Sprays of cardamom carpet the forest floor, and the
land is rich with apple orchards, orange groves and terraced
paddy fields. The Tibetans used to call this Denzong, "the land
of rice." At higher altitudes, one can find huge tracts of
lichen-covered forests, where every conceivable species of
rhododendron and giant magnolia trees punctuate the deep cover.
Higher still, approaching the Tibetan plateau, dwarf
rhododendron provide vital fuel for yak herders. Snow leopards,
Himalayan black bears, tahr (wild ass), bharal or blue sheep,
and the endangered red panda, the symbol of Sikkim, inhabit the
forests. Avian life too is abundant with the giant lammergeyer,
vultures, eagles, whistling
HISTORY
Buddhism, the major religion in the state, arrived from Tibet in
the 13th century. It took its distinctive Sikkimese form four
centuries later, when three Tibetan monks of the old Nyingamapa
order, dissatisfied with the rise of the reformist Gelukpas,
migrated to Yoksum in western Sikkim. Having consulted an
oracle, they sent to Gangtok for a certain Phuntsog Namgyal,
whom they crowned as the first Chogyal or "Righteous King" of
Denzong in 1642. Both the secular and religious head, he was
soon recognized by Tibet, and brought sweeping reforms. His
realm was far larger than today's Sikkim, taking in Kalimpong
and parts of western Bhutan. Over the centuries, the territory
was lost to the Bhutanese, the Nepalese and the British. The
British policy to diminish the strong Tibetan influence resulted
in the import of workers from Nepal to work in the tea
plantations of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong and these soon
outnumbered the indigenous population. After India's
Independence, the eleventh Chogyal, Tashi Namgyal, strove hard
to prevent the dissolution of his kingdom. Officially, Sikkim
was a protectorate of India, and the role of India became
increasingly crucial with the Chinese military build-up along
the northern borders that culminated in an actual invasion early
in the 1960s. His son, Palden Thondup, was a weak ruler. The
beleaguered Chogyal eventually succumbed to the demands of the
Nepalese majority, and Sikkim was annexed by India in 1975.
PEOPLE
Ethnicity Sikkim is the least populated state in the country.
There are three principal communities of Nepalis (75%), Lepchas
(20%), and smaller proportions of Bhutias and Limbus. Lepchas or
the Rong appear to be the original inhabitants of Sikkim as no
legends of their migration are available. In the 13th century,
the Bhutias from Kham area of Tibet came to the state. They
believed in Buddhism of the Mahayana sect. The Nepalis were the
last to enter in the mid-19th century. All communities live in
perfect harmony sharing each other's culture, ethos, and
traditions with the result that there is now a Sikkimese
culture, which is composite of all the three prominent
communities. Most of the people speak Nepali, which is also the
state language. It is the harmony of the place that provides
justification to the name of the state derived form Sukhim,
meaning "happy home, a place of peace." Though Hinduism is
equally followed, Buddhism is entrenched in the tradition of the
state. The people have faith in the Buddha, the dharma (his
teachings), and the sangha (assembly of monks) where religious
texts are studied, taught and preserved. Soaked in the religious
tradition, the land has a spiritual ambience where prayer flags
with inscriptions of Buddhist texts flutter around the boundary
of the village to ward off evil spirits, prayer wheels rotate to
the currents of water, and chortens and lucky signs are common
sights. The protector deity is the goddess of Kanchenjunga that
stands erect as a sentinel protecting the peace of the state.
The deference is so deep and abiding that adventurers are not
permitted to scale the top of the peak. Their achievement is
acknowledged by reaching somewhere close to the top. Since the
hills cannot be animated, anthropomorphism enables these to be
depicted in masks.
MUSIC & DANCE
Sikkim's famous mask dances provide a marvelous spectacle.
Performed by lamas in the Gompa courtyard to celebrate religious
festivals, these dances demonstrate perfect footwork and grace.
Costumed lamas with gaily-painted masks, ceremonial swords and
sparkling jewels, leap and swing to the rhythm of resounding
drums, trumpeting of horns and chanting of monks. Saga Dawa is a
very auspicious day for the Mahayana Buddhists. On this day,
people go to monasteries to offer butter lamps and worship. A
huge procession of monks goes around Gangtok with holy
scriptures. Kagyat dance is performed every 28th and 29th day of
the Tibetan calendar. The solemn nature of the dances is
interspersed with comic relief provided by the jesters.
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
The people
celebrate the anniversaries relating to birth, enlightenment,
and nirvana of the Buddha, besides the Buddhist New Year and the
harvest festivals. Several festivals are celebrated in Gangtok
and its adjoining areas. The Buddhist festival of Bumchu is held
in the Tashiding Gompa during January. The festival of Chaam is
held in Enchey Gompa during January-February and is marked by
dancing. Kagyat Dance is a mask dance held every month at
Gangtok, Pemayangtse and Phodong. Losar marks the Tibetan New
Year and is celebrated during February-March at Pemayangtse and
Rumtek. Tse Chu is a Buddhist dance held in May at Rumtek. Saga
Dawa (held in Gangtok during May) and Drukpa Teshi (celebrated
statewide during July) mark Buddha's first teaching. Phang
Lhabsol is a mask dance celebrated statewide during August.
Dasain, celebrated during September-October, is marked by gift
exchanges and animal sacrifice.
ATTIRE
Traditionally the Lepcha men wear tego, tomo (gyado) thokro,
tingip nyiamrik, ban, thektu, while the women wear dungdem, tego
thetuk, nyiamrik, and ngajo (sickle). The ornaments include
chyap-chyap shambrang bur, kukip alyak, nay-kong, and akager.
The women maintain their hair in two braids.
The traditional attire of Bhutia men consists of hentachi kho
tied by kera gyaado jaja, thuri shyambo and shampo (shoes).
Women wear hanju, kho (sleeveless) tied by kera, ceiling,
shyambo, tapsu (hair band) and shampo. Married women wear
pangden below waist in the front. The traditional ornaments
comprise khow, kesung, nyandap, and diu. The women keep their
hair in two braids. Nepalese males wear daura, suruwai, topi
patuka (waist coat) and a khukri, while the women wear chowbandi
choli, gunew tied by patuka, hembari (shawl tied round the
chest) majetro. The ornaments include chyapte sun, gadavari (ear
rings) tilhari kantha (hanging from the neck) chura, dungri,
mundri (nose ring), kallis (ankle ornaments), sirbandi charrani
har and tikmala are female ornaments. The sindur (vermilion) and
the potey (bottle green) are the signs of married women. |
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