Here Pratanu Banerjee, an anthropology student of Narasinha dutt college and Bangabasi college has explored the material culture of the Lepcha.

2.  The Lepcha have been identified as
Rongkup. It indicates God’s children. There
are Rong along with Mútuncí Róngkup
Rumkup plus Rongpa have been regarded as
indigenous people from Sikkim Nepal and
India. Their population is 80,000
approximately.

3.  You can find Lepcha in the following areas:
 Western and southwestern Bhutan
 Tibet
 Darjeeling
 Mechi zone of Nepal
 Hills in West Bengal

4.  Lepcha people include four communities.
They are as follows:
 Renjóngmú from Sikkim
 Dámsángmú of Kalimpong
 Karseong
 Mirik
 ʔilámmú from Ilam District in Nepal
 Promú of southwestern Bhutan

5.  Lepcha origin is still a mystery. They might have
emerged in Myanmar, Mongolia or Tibet.
 Language is Tibeto-Burman and it can be grouped
under Himalayish.
 The anthropologists believe the tribe had
emigrated from Tibet towards north,
Eastern Mongolia or Japan. They might have
begun from southeast Tibet and they might have
gone to Burma, Thailand. They may have gone to
Japan. Their last destination was close to
Kanchenjunga. There is no tradition of Migration
among the Lepcha community.

6.  Their population is 7% in Mechi Zone. They
have 2% population in Ilam District. In
Talplejung District they have 10% population.
 The Sikkim shows 15% Lepchas.
 Pano (King) Gaeboo Achyok. Pano had ruled
Lepcha people. Gaeboo Achyok had united
the Lepcha and they respected him.
 Lepcha people show respect on 20th
December in the form of Pano Gaeboo
Achyok celebrations day.

7.  Pano Gaeboo Achyok have expanded the kingdom
of Lepcha from Bhutan to Ilam in Nepal. They
are found in Sikkim and Northern Bangladesh.
 Lepcha is the language of Lepcha and this comes
under Bodish-Himalyish group under the Tibeto-
Burman language. Rong is the script of Lepcha.
 It has been taken from the script of Tibet. This
had emerged during 17th as well as 18th
centuries. There is a scholar among Lepcha
Thikúng Mensalóng during the rule of
third Tibetan king or Chogyal in Sikkim.

8.  The manuscripts of old
Lepcha have been
restored at Himalayan
Languages Project located
in Leiden of Netherlands.
There are more than 180
books on Lepcha.
 Lepchas have been
classified into clans and it
is known as putsho in their
language. There is a
sacred lake along with
mountain peak In Lepcha
language, the lake is
dâ and mountain peak is
cú.

9.  Nāmchumú
 Simíkmú
 Fonyung Rumsóngmú might be briefed into
Namchu. Simik
 Foning
 Sada
 Barphungputso
 Rongong
 Karthakmu
 Sungutmu
 Phipon
 Brimu

10.  The Lepchas have been regarded as Buddhist.
The Bhutias have brought the religion.
 The Lepchas have been converted to
Christianity. The Lepchas also follow the
shamanistic religion. It has been known as
Mun.
 Cu Rumfat is a ceremony for respecting
mountain peaks of ancestors.
 There are rituals associated with local
species.

11.  In the Sikkim, Lepchas have utilized more
than 370 animal species along with plants
and fungi.
 Nepal Census of 2001
 Among 3,660 Lepcha found in Nepal,
Buddhist Lepcha is 88.80%
 7.62% Hindus.
 The Christian Lepchas live in Kalimpong,
Darjeeling and Sikkim.
 Dumbun is the clothing of female Lepcha.

12.  It is also known as Gada or dumdyám. This
has been one big piece of cloth. This cloth is
smooth silk or cotton. It is one solid color.
There is a fold over a particular shoulder and
there is pin over other shoulder.
 They are tied through waistband which is
known as tago in Lepcha. They also wear
long-sleeved blouse.
 The general clothing of Lepcha for men has
been known as Dumpra.
 This has many colors and they are hand-
woven.

13.  There is pin over one shoulder and they are
tied by a waistband.
 There is white shirt along with trousers.
 The thyáktuk is a flat round cap worn by
men.
 They have tough black velvet sides.
 There is top which is multicolored and there
is a knot. Sometimes they wear rattan hats
or cone-shaped bamboo hat.
 Dumbun is ankle-length cloth of women
lepcha. It may be cotton or silk and it has
one color.

14.  The Lepchas have been practicing agriculture.
They are found to cultivate the following:
 Oranges
 Rice
 Cardamoms
 Other foods
 Lepcha cuisine
 This has been mild and they are not spicy like
Nepali or Indian cuisine.
 Rice has been staple.
 They also take buckswheat, maize or wheat.
 The Lepchas take vegetables and fruit

15.  Khuzom has been regarded as a bread
traditionally. It is prepared from the
following:
 Buck wheat
 Millet
 Corn
 Wheat flour.

16.  Ponguzom (Rice, fish, vegetable grill)
 Su zom (Baked meat dish)
 Thukpa (Noodle, meat and vegetable stew)
 Sorongbeetuluk (Rice and nettle porridge)
 Chhaang or Chi is an alcoholic beverage.
There has been fermentation of Millet.
 Chi had religious importance. It is presented
to Gods at the time of ceremonies.

17.  The Lepchas have been popular for basketry
and weaving.
 The Lepcha are popular for their dances,
folktales and songs.
 Lepcha folk dances
 Zo-Mal-Lok
 Chu-Faat
 Tendong Lo Rum Faat
 Kinchum-Chu-Bomsa

18.  The musical instruments are as follows:
 Sanga (drum)
 Yangjey (string instrument)
 Cymbal
 Yarka
 Flute
 Tungbuk
 Four-string lute and there is a bow for
playing.

19.  The Lepcha have been identified as a
community which practices endogamy.
 The Lepcha have patrilineal descent
 There is marriage through negotiation. The
horoscopes are checked by Lama. The date is
chosen by Lama for wedding.

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 Email pratanubanerjee9@gmail.com