The Major Dance and Music forms of Sikkim

Sikkim is a state in the northeast part of India, and at its boundaries lies Tibet in the north and northeast, Nepal in the west, Bhutan in the east, and West Bengal in the south. The community is composed of different ethnicities like the Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepalis. Their cultures constitute the folk dances and music of the Sikkimese area.

Their music and folk dances depict the beauty of the natural habitat, illustrate the harvest season, and are performed for good luck and prosperity. The State is a beautiful miscellany of ethnic groups, religions, and languages as many people of different races and ethnicities live together. Few of the art forms in dance and music are discussed further in the article.

Folk Dance of Sikkim 

1. Mask Dance

When one thinks of the culture of Sikkim, one immediately thinks about the mask dance of the State. It’s one of the popular cultural dances of Sikkim and is divided into various types:

•   Gouthor Chaam is performed in the month of February, two days before Losar in the winter.
•   Rumtek Chaam is an important religious folk dance that is performed in the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar on day 10. The month is parallel to the month of June in the English calendar. The dance form is colourful and attracts many pilgrims and visitors. It symbolises the Guru Rimpoche’s eight signs.
•   Enchey Chaam is a dance form to celebrate religious occasions on the 18th and 19th day of the eleventh month of the Tibetan calendar, which is parallel to December and January as per the English calendar. Lamas perform it in the courtyard of the ‘Gompa.’

 The characteristic of this dance form is the flawless footwork of the dancers presented with grace. The costume of Lamas includes casually painted masks, ritual swords, and dazzling jewels. The lamas perform to the beat of drums, trumpets, and the chanting of monks. 

2.Yak Chaam and Singhi Chaam

These dances are in Tibetan form. Yak chaam is a powerful and attractive tribute to Yak, which is an important animal for the survival of man at high altitudes. Singhi Chaam is connected to the five peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga. It depicts an image of a snow lion, which is an important cultural symbol of the State.

The dance involves the dancers in the attire of a yak and performing to the traditional songs and music. The form illustrates the movements of the yak and the simple lifestyle of the herdsmen of the mountains. Though Chaams are performed in all the monasteries of Sikkim, the ones performed at Pemayangtse, Rumtek and Enchey are the best of all.

3- Maruni

Maruni is one of the oldest dances of the Nepalese and also a popular one. The dance form is linked to the festival of lights, i.e., Diwali. There are three male and three female dancers, who wear multi-coloured costumes and heavy ornaments and also perform at weddings. Dhatu Waray is an important part of the dance, also known as the clown. The dancers escort ‘Naumati Baja’, which is an orchestra of 9 instruments.

4- Lu Khangthamo

Lu Khangthamo is a folk dance belonging to the Bhutia culture of Sikkim. It is performed to celebrate and to thank all the gods and deities of heaven, hell, and earth, which according to them, are three worlds. The dancers can be from any age group, and they don traditional ornaments and costumes during the performance. The dance can specifically be performed on occasions like housewarmings and New Year celebrations to create a pleasing environment and for entertainment. 

Music Style Of Sikkim 

Tamang Selo

Tamang Selo is traditional Nepali folk music and is performed to the sound of ‘Dhamphu’, which is a musical instrument and provides rhythm to the music. The style is popular among Tamang people and is practised in the culture of Sikkim and some parts of West Bengal. The music also includes traditional instruments like Madal and Tungna.

The composition of music can be lively and catchy, or it can be a slow melody. The song is performed on many occasions, sometimes to convey sorrow, love, happiness, or to tell folklore to the community. It can also be performed on happy occasions and to spread the news about daily incidents. Hira Devi Waiba is known as the pioneer of Nepali songs in India, and the first-ever song to be recorded was ‘Chura ta Hoina Astura’. Many musicians followed in her footsteps after that. 

Conclusion:

Sikkim is a culturally rich state in India with many races, religions, and ethnicities living together in harmony. They have a mixed culture, and people from all communities practice and perform various dance forms and music styles. They worship the blessing of nature that has been bestowed upon them, like the mountains of Mount Kanchenjunga and the Yak, the greenery that the State has, and many more.

Their music of Tamang Selo is a way for them to express their emotions, be that happiness or sorrow, or as a way to tell folklore to the children. The instruments Dhampu, Tungna, and Madal are very famous in the culture of Sikkim, on which the rhythm of the music becomes much more attractive. The nine instrument orchestra, i.e. Naumati, is the pride of the State, along with the mask dance. That’s why Sikkim is known as one of the richest and most colourful states in northeast India.