Sikkim, a landlocked Indian state in the Himalayas, borders Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan, and is culturally rich with various traditional dances like the Mask Dance, Tamang Selo Dance, and Maruni Dance, representing significant local customs. The state recognizes several languages, including Nepali, Bhutia, and Lepcha, with educational initiatives supporting their teaching at various academic levels. Each language and dance reflects the diverse cultural heritage of Sikkim and its vibrant community traditions.

1. SIKKIM

2. SIKKIM
Sikkim ie, the "Goodly Region", Standard Tibetan: is
a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas.
The state borders Nepal to the west, Tibet
Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China to
the north and east, and Bhutan to the southeast.
The state of West Bengal borders Sikkim to its
south.

3. SIKKIM : DANCE AND LANGUAGE

4. DANCE AND MUSIC

5. SOME FAMOUS DANCES OF
SIKKIM
Mask Dance
Tamang Selo Dance
Maruni Dance
Yak Chamm
Kagyed Dance

6. 1] MASK DANCE
The traditional mask dance is so famous in
Sikkim that it has become synonymous with the
state. Many of you may have seen various
pictures and videos of this dance
performance in various monasteries. This
dance is divided into various types depending
on the monastery and season they are being
performed which include: Enchey Chaam,
Rumtek Chaam, and Gouthar Chaam. The
dance represents the 8 holy signs of Guru
Rimpoche. The Chham dance is performed by
the llamas of the monastery, in the courtyards
to mark some special or an important holy
occasion.

7. 2] TAMANG SELO DANCE
Named after the Tamangs of the Nepali
community who have been residing in the
mountains and the plains of the Himalayas, this
ancient dance form is a major part of their culture.
The Tamang Selo dance is performed along with
the rhythmic sound of the Damphu which is a
traditional handheld musical instrument. Due to the
use of this instrument, the dance form is also
sometimes referred to as Damphoo dance. The
dance represents fun and happiness at its peak
and it is believed that even the saddest will burst
into a beautiful smile on witnessing this dance. This
feel-good factor is associated with the reason
behind this dance form being one of the most
popular folk dances in the Nepalese community.

8. 3] MARUNI DANCE
Sikkim is home to a majority of the Nepalese
population whose culture, beliefs, and
traditions have beautifully amalgamated
with the existing culture of Sikkim. Maruni is
one of the most famous Nepalese dance
forms which is also one of the oldest in the
region. This dance form is performed mainly
during major festivals like Diwali and special
occasions like marriage functions. Maruni
dance performers mainly belong to the
people of the Magar community and it is
also popular among the people of
Darjeeling, Assam, and Bhutan. The dancers
are dressed elaborately in colorful
traditional costumes and ornaments to
commemorate the victory of good over
evil. Accompanying the dancers is the
grand Nepali Naumati Baja orchestra.

9. 4] YAK CHAMM
Yak Chham or the yak dance is an Asian folk
dance that is performed widely in Sikkim. As the
name suggests the dancers involved in this
dance impersonate a yak along with a man
mounted on top of it. The dancer also wears a
mask representing the family members that are
believed to have discovered the yak with the
help of magical bird thousands of years ago. The
Chham in Yak Chham describes the ‘religious
form of dance’. It is also done as a tribute to the
yak animal, a crucial animal that is a source of
livelihood for the people living on the hills,
especially in the high-altitude regions. The Singhi
Chham is another important Sikkimese dance
form that is linked with the famous 5 peaks of
mount Khangchendzonga.

10. 5] KAGYED DANCE
Kagyred is a type of Chaam masked dance
performance that is done by the Buddhist monks
and lamas of Sikkim. The dance is performed to
ward off evil spirits and offer reverence to the
almighty. The history of this dance can be traced
back to the time of the founder of Tibetan
Buddhism in Sikkim who is believed to have
performed this dance to get rid of the demon and
negative spirits from his holy land. Over time, a
number of Chham dance variants have propped
up, each of which is unique to that region. The
performance involves the masked monks doing
rigorous dance moves that are symbolic of the
destruction of evil forces and bringing in the age of
peace and prosperity.

11. LANGUAGES

12. SOME OF THE LANGUAGES
SPOKEN IN SIKKIM
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
1. NEPALI
2. BHUTIA{SIKKIMESE }
3. LEPCHA
• ADDITIONAL OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
1. GURUNG
2. LIMBU
3. MANGAR
4. SHERPA
5. MUKHIA
6. NEWARI
7. RAI
8. TAMANG

13. *BHUTIA LANGUAGE*
• Bhutias are divided into two groups – Tongdu-ruzhi with four clans and
Bebtsengyed with eight clans, though there are a number of other sub
castes.
• They speak and write in the Bhutia language which is also called Lhokey
although their script, language, religion, dress and ornaments have
semblance with the Tibetans.
• The Bhutia language, a long with the Lepcha and Limboo languages are
taught in Sikkim till t he univer ity level.

14. *LEPCHA LANGUAGE*
• They have their own language, known as ‘Rongring’, with its script,
‘Mutanchi Rong Aming’.
• The State Government has accorded official status to the language, along
with the Bhutia and Limboo languages.
• Since the year 2000 it has been taught in schools and colleges in Sikkim and
from 2016 it has been taught at the university level.

15. GURUNG LANGUAGE
• Gurungs have their own language, Tamu Kye and script, Khema.
• The Gurung language (along with six others) was given official status in 1995
by Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, and is being taught in selected
Government schools up to the secondary level.
• Text books, magazines and dictionaries have also been published in Tamu
Kye.
• Since 2001, the Gurung edition of the Sikkim Government weekly newspaper,
the Sikkim Herald, is also being taken out.

16. MANGAR LANGUAGE
• They have their own language, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman family, and
also have their own script, ‘Akkharika’.
• In 1995, the State Government recognized this language as one of the State
languages of Sikkim along with the Rai, Gurung, Tamang, Sherpa, Newar
and Sunuwar languages.
• The teaching of the Mangar language is being introduced in schools that
have the greatest number of Mangar students

17. RIA LANGUAGE
• The Rai or Kirat Khambu Rai community is one of Sikkim’s major indigenous
ethnic communities and has been living in Sikkim from ages past.
• Their language and script, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family of
languages, was recognised as one of the official languages of Sikkim with
effect from 31 March, 1995 vide the Languages (Amendment) Act, 1995,
and published in the Sikkim Government Extraordinar y Gazette No. 76 dated
21 April, 1995.
• This language has, since the year 2002, been taught in various Government
schools in Sikkim.

18. SHERPA LANGUAGE
• They have their own dialect, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman languages,
and they use the Sambhota script as a medium of writing books in their
language.
• The Government of Sikkim granted official status to the Sherpa language in
1995 along with other languages and the language is being taught in
selected Government schools up to the secondary level.
• The Sikkim Herald – the official newspaper of the Sikkim Government –
Sherpa edition started publication in the year 2001 and has since been in
print on a weekly basis

19. THANK
YOU