Fairs & Festivals
All important Indian festivals are celebrated in Sikkim with great fervour. Most popular Hindu festivals viz. Diwali and Dussera are celebrated almost everywhere in the state.
Apart from these there are some regional festivals which include Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu that are celebrated by Buddhist religious communities.
Losar – the Tibetan New Year in mid-December is an important festival of the state when most of the government offices and tourist centres are closed for a week.
For more information on fairs and festivals,
click hereDance of Sikkim
Dance and Music
Western rock music can be commonly heard from the houses, restaurants and business centres in Sikkim. Hindi songs are also gaining popularity among the young masses.
Indigenous Nepali rock music with Western rock beat is also popular among the Sikkimese (people of Sikkim). The Nepali lyrics are so heart touching that you can stand a while to listen to its stanzas.
Art and Crafts
Most of the people of the state live in rural areas and have their age old tradition of making various utility objects. The most popular handicraft objects of the state include woven woolen carpet, choksee table, thankas, and canvas wall hangings depicting painting on different aspects of Sikkim.
For the development of the cottage industries in the state, the government has set up an Institute of Cottage Industries in South District. The locally made handicrafts are sold here for the benefits of the rural people.
Cuisines
Rice is the major staple food in Sikkim. Alcoholic drinks are enjoyed by both men and women. Beef eating is common amongst the Bhutias.
Noodle-based items such as the thukpa, chowmein, thanthuk, fakthu, gyathuk and wonton are the most popular dishes. Momos, steamed dumplings filled with vegetable, buff (buffalo's meat) or pork and served with a soup is a popular snack.