Sikkimese people

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.{{cite web|url=http://14.139.206.50:8080/jspui/bitstream/1/4203/1/Population%20of%20sikkim%20a%20geographical%20analysis.pdf|title=Population of Sikkim:A Geographical Analysis}} {{Pie chart

|thumb=left

|caption=Communities and Tribes of Sikkim{{cite web|url=http://14.139.206.50:8080/jspui/bitstream/1/158/1/Encyclopaedia%20of%20Sikkim%20vol%201.pdf|title=Encyclopedia of Sikkim}}{{cite web|url=http://buddhilkhamdhak.blogspot.com/2014/01/complex-ethnography-of-sikkim_6201.html?m=1|title=Complex Ethnography of Sikkim|date=31 January 2014}}

|label1=Rai|color1=red|value1=13.4

|label2= Chhetri|value2=12.22|color2=green

|label3=Limbu|value3=9.79|color3=salmon

|label4=Bhutia|value4=8.57|color4=violet

|label5=Lepcha|value5=7.94|color5=mediumspringgreen

|label6=Bahun|color6=orange|value6=6.96

|label7=Tamang|value7=6.8|color7=darkred

|label8=Gurung|value8=5.87|color8=palegreen

|label9=Sherpa|value9=4.45|color9=yellow

|label10=Kami|value10=4.25|color10=steelblue

|label11=Newar|value11=3.73|color11=hotpink

|label12=Magar|value12=2.69|color12=plum

|label13=Damai |value13=1.96|color13=cornsilk

|label14=Thami|value14=0.9|color14=darkblue

|label15=Bhujel|value15=0.6|color15=magenta

|label16= Sunuwar|value16=0.65|color16=turquoise

|label17=Sanyasi/Giri|value17=0.46|color17=teal

|label18=Sarki |value18=0.2|color18=skyblue

|label19=Yakkha Dewan|value19=0.003|color19=indianred

|label20=Others|value20=9.34|color20=grey

}}

The People of India, Sikkim, Voi-XXXIX by K.S Singh (1993) enumerated altogether three ethnicities and further divided into twenty-five tribes and communities in Sikkim. Sikkimese are group of three ethnicities - Indian Gorkhas, Bhutia and Lepcha or Rongkup. 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 (Khas), Chhetri (Khas), Yakkha, Damai, Gurung, Kami, Rai, Lepcha, Limbu, Magars, Newar, Jogi (Sanyasi/Giri), Sarki, Sherpa, Sunuwar, Tamang, and Thami. The Bhutias constitute 8.57%, Lepchas 7·94%, Limbus 9·79%, Tamangs 6.8%, Sherpas 4.45%, Magars 2.69%, Rais 13.4%, Gurungs 5.87%, Yakkhas 0.003%, Jogis (Sanyasi/Giri) 0.46%, Sunuwar 0.65%, Thamis 0.09%, Bhujels 0.6%, Khas or 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 Yakkha followed by Thami.{{cite web|url=http://14.139.211.59/bitstream/123456789/1543/9/09_chapter_03.pdf|title=LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT}}

{{pie chart|label1=Nepali|label7=Tamang|label11=Other|value11=4.2|caption=Languages of Sikkim (2011 census){{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=7 July 2018}}|color10=gold|value10=1.14|label10=Bengali|color9=limegreen|value9=1.22|label9=Rai|color8=red|value8=1.63|label8=Bhojpuri|color7=skyblue|value7=1.92|color6=purple|value1=62.6|color3=lavender|color1=maroon|label2=Sikkimese|value2=6.86|color2=deepskyblue|label3=Limbu|value3=6.34|label4=Lepcha|value6=2.24|value4=6.27|color4=darkblue|label5=Hindi|value5=5.58|color5=orange|label6=Sherpa|color11=grey}}

The official languages of the state are Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha and English. Additional official languages include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Sunuwar, 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.indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/mini-sikkim-in-making-308081-2016-02-10 English is also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim. Other languages include Dzongkha, Groma, Hindi, Majhi, Majhwar, Thulung, Tibetan, and Yakkha.{{sfn|Bareh|2001|p=10}} Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim while Bhutia and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.indiatoday.in/amp/education-today/gk-current-affairs/story/mini-sikkim-in-making-308081-2016-02-10thewire.in/article/politics/watch-sikkim-simultaneous-people-elections-and-the-battle-over-the-17th-karmapa/ampnortheasttourism.gov.in/sikkim.html

Sikkim Has Various Ethnic Cultural Festivals of Indian Gorkhas, Bhutias and Lepchas. Hindu and Buddhist both celebrates Local Festivals : Dashain (Vijaya Dashami), Tihar (Dipawali), Losar, Saga Dawa, Chasok Tangnam, Sakewa, Tendong Lho Rumfaat, Losoong/Namsoong, Indra Jatra, Sonam Lhosar, Tamu Lhosar, Chasok Tangnam, Maghe Sankranti, Buddha Jayanti, Rama Navami, Pang-Lhabsol, Lhabab Duechen. Teyongsi Srijunga Sawan Tongnam, Barahimizong, Kagyed Dance, Guru Rimpoche's Thunkar Tshechu, Bhanu Jayanti etc.{{cite web|url=https://sikkim.gov.in/KnowSikkim/about-sikkim/festivals-in-sikkim|title=festivals of Sikkim govtofsikkimportal}}{{cite web|url=http://sikenvis.nic.in/WriteReadData/Publication/Hand%20Book%20of%20Nature%20Based%20Festival%20of%20Sikkim%2005-06-15%20web.pdf|title=Handbook on Nature Based Festivals of Sikkim}}

{{See also|Hinduism in Sikkim}}

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.{{Cite book|title = Encyclopaedia of North-East India: Sikkim|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=jrr7HPr8NAQC|publisher = Mittal Publications|date = 1 January 2001|isbn = 9788170997948|first = Hamlet|last = Bareh}}

Hinduism has been the state's major religion since the arrival of the Nepali speaking Indian Gorkha 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.

Christians in Sikkim are mostly descendants of Lepcha people who were converted by British missionaries in the late 19th century and constitute around 10 per cent of the population. As of 2014, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sikkim is the largest Christian denomination in Sikkim.{{Cite web|title = Indian Reformed Fellowship Australia|url = http://irfa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49:points-of-ministry&Itemid=41|website = Indian Reformed Fellowship - Australia|access-date = 4 January 2016|language = en-US}}

Muslims and Jains, who each account for roughly one per cent of the population.{{Cite book|title = People of India: Sikkim, Anthropological Survey of India.|last = Singh|first = Kumar Suresh|publisher = Anthropological Survey of India|year = 1992|isbn = 81-7046-120-0|location = New Delhi|pages = 39}}

The traditional religion of the native Lepcha people is Mun, an animist practice which co-exists alongside Buddhism.{{Cite book|title = A Grammar Of Lepcha|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DpCXEc_9RWcC|publisher = BRILL|date = 1 January 2007|isbn = 978-9004155251|first = Heleen|last = Plaisier}}

{{Portal|India}}

• Sikkimese cuisine
• Indigenous peoples of Sikkim
• Rabdentse
• Gangtok

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Category:Culture of Sikkim

Category:Ethnic groups in India

Sikkimese people

Category:Ethnic groups in Nepal