Sikkimese people

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Sikkimese people
Rai
  • Sherpa
  • Tamang
    • Religion
    Majority:
    Hinduism

    Buddhism

    Minority:
    Related ethnic groups

    Sikkimese are people who inhabit the

    Nepali origin including Tsongs and Schedule castes.[4] The community in Sikkim is inclusive of three sub-cultural sectors: the Kiratis, the Newaris and the Indian Gorkhas (Nepali Indians).[5][6][7]

    Tribes and Communities of Sikkim

    Sikkim is a multi-ethnic society inhabited by different ethnic communities belonging to different racial and linguistic groups. The Anthropological Survey of India has identified 21 communities in Sikkim and more than 13 different languages belonging to different linguistic stock are spoken in the state.[8]

    Communities and Tribes of Sikkim[9][10]

      
    Sanyasi/Giri (0.46%)
      Sarki (0.2%)
      Yakkha
    Dewan (0.003%)
      Others (9.34%)

    Ethnic Communities

    Bhutias and Plainsmen. While the Report of the Commission for Review of Environmental and Social Sector, Policies, Plans and Programmes (CRESP, 2008) records different communities and tribes of Sikkim such as Bhujel, Bhutia, Bahun, Chhetri, Dewan (Yakha), Damai, Gurung, Kami, Rai, Lepcha, Limboo, Magars, Newar, Jogi (Sanyasi/Giri), Sarki, Sherpa, Mukhia (Sunuwar), Tamang, and Thami. The Bhutias constitute 8.57%, Lepchas 7·94%, Limboos 9·79%, Tamangs 6.8%, Sherpas 4.45%, Magars 2.69%, Rais 13.4%, Gurungs 5.87%, Dewans 0.003%, Jogis (Sanyasi/Giri) 0.46%, Mukhias (Sunuwar) 0.65%, Thamis 0.09%, Bhujels 0.6%, Bahun 6.96%, Khas or Chettris 12.22%, Pradhans (Newar) 3·73%, Kamis 4.25%, Damais 1.96%, Sarkis 0.2% and others 9·34% of the total population of Sikkim. The Rai is the single largest ethnic community in Sikkim followed by the Chettris. Among the Schedule caste, Kami is the largest community followed by Damai and Sarki. The community with lowest population in Sikkim is Dewan followed by Thami.[11]

    Languages

    Languages of Sikkim (2011 census)[12]

      
    Rai (1.22%)
      Bengali
    (1.14%)
      Other (4.2%)

    The official languages of the state are Nepali, Sikkimese, Lepcha and English. Additional official languages include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Mukhia, Newar, Rai, Sherpa and Tamang for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.

    Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.

    Bhutia and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.[15][16][17]

    Festivals

    Sikkim Has Various Ethnic Cultural Festivals of Nepalis, Bhutias and Lepchas Hindu, Buddhist and Local Festivals :

    Buddha Jayanti, Rama Navami, Pang-Lhabsol, Lhabab Duechen. Teyongsi Srijunga Sawan Tongnam, Barahimizong, Kagyed Dance, Guru Rimpoche's Thunkar Tshechu, Bhanu Jayanti etc.[18][19]

    Religion

    Vajrayana Buddhism, which accounts for 28.1 per cent of the population, is Sikkim's second-largest, yet most prominent religion. Prior to Sikkim's becoming a part of the Indian Union, Vajrayana Buddhism was the state religion under the Chogyal. Sikkim has 75 Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s.[20]

    Hinduism has been the state's major religion since the arrival of the Nepali Hindu population; an estimated 64% per cent of the total population are now adherents of the religion. There exist many Hindu temples. Kirateshwar Mahadev Temple is very popular, the Char Dham, Sai Mandir altogether.

    Jains, who each account for roughly one per cent of the population.[22] The traditional religion of the native Lepcha people is Mun, an animist practice which co-exists alongside Buddhism.[23]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ Buddhi L. Khamdhak (1 December 2019). "The Tsongs (Limbus) Down the Ages in Sikkim" (PDF). Journal of Global Literacies, Technologies, and Emerging Pedagogies. 5 (2). Retrieved 3 February 2021. The Sikkimi Tsongs, Limbus or Yakthungs, are the Indigenous inhabitants of Sikkim. They are also commonly called 'Tsong' by the Bhutias and Lepchas in Sikkim
    2. S2CID 251647008
      .
    3. ^ "Population of Sikkim:A Geographical Analysis" (PDF).
    4. ^ Pradhan, Nitesh R. (4 May 2022). "May 8: Sikkim's Day Of Democracy". newindian.in. Archived from the original on 13 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
    5. ^ "Ethnic Group of Sikkim In History" (PDF).
    6. ^ "Political Parties and ethnicity in Sikkim since1975" (PDF).
    7. ISBN 9788121209649
      .
    8. ^ "Population of Sikkim:A Geographical Analysis" (PDF).
    9. ^ "Encyclopedia of Sikkim" (PDF).
    10. ^ "Complex Ethnography of Sikkim". 31 January 2014.
    11. ^ "LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT" (PDF).
    12. ^ "Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011". www.censusindia.gov.in. Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
    13. ^ indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/mini-sikkim-in-making-308081-2016-02-10
    14. ^ Bareh 2001, p. 10.
    15. ^ indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/mini-sikkim-in-making-308081-2016-02-10
    16. ^ thewire.in/article/politics/watch-sikkim-simultaneous-people-elections-and-the-battle-over-the-17th-karmapa/amp
    17. ^ northeasttourism.gov.in/sikkim.html
    18. ^ "festivals of Sikkim govtofsikkimportal".
    19. ^ "Handbook on Nature Based Festivals of Sikkim" (PDF).
    20. ISBN 9788170997948
      .
    21. ^ "Indian Reformed Fellowship Australia". Indian Reformed Fellowship - Australia. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
    22. ISBN 81-7046-120-0
      .
    23. ISBN 978-9004155251
      .
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