By Hemant SharmaFor a long time, Sikkim was kinda an underrated spot for the natural beauty, but now a lot of people are getting to know about the true beauty of this state, and more and more tourists are now coming in to visit. Though apart from just the stunning and out-of-this-world landscapes, there is one more thing that hits you hard and sweet when you visit Sikkim. And yes, we’re talking about the culture of this state. The one thing that you’ll be pretty much intrigued about from the get-go is the way people dress in this state; it is like they respect their culture even in this modern era. And today, we’re here to talk about just that, so, let’s get to know about the traditional dresses of Sikkim. Shall we?
Lepcha Community Dress
For Men
Well, first of all, Thokro Dum is a white cloth worn like baggy trousers, something like a karate dress. And, then there are Yenthatse, which are shirts to be worn with them. Shambo is a type of cap with beautiful embroidery. Dumpra? Oh, that’s a multi-colored cloth of sorts that is slung over the shoulder, held in place by a waistband. There are, we say, some men who go all the way for weddings or festivals with their bamboo or velvet hats.
For Women
Dumvum, or Dumden, is a floor-length dress, ankle-length, in super soft silk, and one wears a loose Tago bright-colored blouse with it. Nyamrek is the belt that keeps the dress in place. And Taro or Gorey? That’s a head scarf. Long and light, hence graceful, are the women’s dresses, but yes, the men’s clothing is tough, you know, for stuff like working in the field.
Bhutia Community Dress
For Men
Bakhu, or Kho, is a robe type of dress you tie on both sides, with a thick belt around one waist. With this one though, the inner shirt is called Tohr. A waistcoat is a Jya. Yenthatse is understood to be a traditional shirt, while Kera is a belt. Shambo refers to a round-shaped cap or headgear, while Sabcha refers to leather boots.
For Women
Bakhu is a straight-robe styled dress just like the one for men, but tailored quite differently. Honju is a silk blouse worn inside. Kushen is a cloak kind of jacket while Pangden is the colourful apron worn at the front. And just like that, the Shambo and the Sabcha are the cap and the boots. Indeed, Bhutia people will wear Bakhu for any of their major occasions. In weddings, they will opt for heavily embroidered silk or brocade ones.
Nepalese Community Dress
For Men
Daura looks like a long shirt with two layers of cloth, Shurwal is a loose pair of trousers, and Askot is a waistcoat. Plain and simple. With all this, Patuki is a belt, and Dhaka Topi is a kind of cap that they wear. Another thing is that quite a few guys do carry a Khukri, which is a curved kind of knife, inside a leather case, especially for ceremonies.
For Women
Pharia is an article of clothing similar to a sari, super colourful, often red and yellow. And with that, Chaubandi Cholo is a blouse that ties on four sides. Then there is Jharu Cholo, which is another variant of Askot. Hembari is a wrap worn on the shoulders that gets paired up with a variety of outfits. And then, Pachauri is a colourful scarf that is hung from the head and below the waist while dancing. And what about Majetro? That is a special kind of shawl. In short, these dresses, hues, and designs make the Nepali woman shimmer with bright, elegant beauty.
Traditional Ornaments by Community
Lepcha Jewelry
Their jewellery items are pretty simple, like: Namchok are earrings, Lyak are necklaces, and Gyar are bracelets. These are mostly made out of gold and silver.
Bhutia Jewelry
For this community, Yencho are earrings, Khao are necklaces, and Phiru are pearl ornaments. Diu are gold bangles; Khalli are silver anklets; and Joko are rings. And one thing: Bhutia women wear those heavy gold jewellery big time during weddings.
Nepalese Jewelry
Tilhari is a necklace with green beads and a gold pendant, for the most part, for married women. Naugeri, Charanihari, and Kantha are different styles of necklaces, too. And then, Sirbandi is worn on the head like a tiara. Bulaki is an oversized nose ring, and Dungri is a nose pin. Other than that, there are Gadwari, Chura, and Kalli earrings, bangles, and silver anklets.