Material Culture of The Lepcha - Anthropological Study

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

1. The Lepcha

2. Origin and Population 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. Location You can find Lepcha in the following areas: Western and southwestern Bhutan Tibet Darjeeling Mechi zone of Nepal Hills in West Bengal

4. Communities 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. Anthropological Study 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. Population 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. History of Lepcha 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 17 th 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. Manuscript of Lepcha 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. Clan names of Lepcha Nāmchumú Simíkmú Fonyung Rumsóngmú  might be briefed into Namchu . Simik Foning Sada Barphungputso Rongong Karthakmu Sungutmu Phipon Brimu

10. Religion 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. Nepal Census of 2001 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. Dress 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. Dress 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. Foods 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. Food Khuzom  has been regarded as a bread traditionally. It is prepared from the following: Buck wheat Millet Corn Wheat flour.

16. Popular dishes of Lepcha 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. Musical instruments 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. Marriage and Descent 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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