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People
The Bhutias
The Bhutias came to Sikkim sometime in the 15th century and are mainly descendants of the early settlers from Tibet and Bhutan.
They accompanied ancestors of the first Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal. They settled in higher altitudes, driving the Lepchas into the forests and lower valleys.
The Bhutias are sturdy and well built with a good physique and mongolian features. The Bhutia villages are big and are arranged in tiers on undulating hills. They are followers of Buddhism and the monasteries occupy predominant place and play an important role in the socio-cultural life of the Bhutias. They prefer to live in patriarchal joint family. The Bhutia families are known as the category of village headmen and Landlords or Kazis.
The Bhutias promoted Jhooming (shifting) cultivation as they possessed plenty of cultivable lands and sowed paddy, kodo (millet), maize and other cereals.
Language
The Bhutias have imbibed the Tibetan Civilization in regard to their dresses, ornaments, religion and scripts. Their language is Sikkimese language (Bhutia language) and they follow Buddhism. The Bhutia language is taught up to degree level. University of North Bengal has included Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo languages since 2000 as Modem Indian languages. Sikkimese Bhutia language is a State recognised language.
The Bhutias came to Sikkim sometime in the 15th century and are mainly descendants of the early settlers from Tibet and Bhutan.
They accompanied ancestors of the first Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal. They settled in higher altitudes, driving the Lepchas into the forests and lower valleys.
The Bhutias are sturdy and well built with a good physique and mongolian features. The Bhutia villages are big and are arranged in tiers on undulating hills. They are followers of Buddhism and the monasteries occupy predominant place and play an important role in the socio-cultural life of the Bhutias. They prefer to live in patriarchal joint family. The Bhutia families are known as the category of village headmen and Landlords or Kazis.
The Bhutias promoted Jhooming (shifting) cultivation as they possessed plenty of cultivable lands and sowed paddy, kodo (millet), maize and other cereals.
Language
The Bhutias have imbibed the Tibetan Civilization in regard to their dresses, ornaments, religion and scripts. Their language is Sikkimese language (Bhutia language) and they follow Buddhism. The Bhutia language is taught up to degree level. University of North Bengal has included Bhutia, Lepcha and Limboo languages since 2000 as Modem Indian languages. Sikkimese Bhutia language is a State recognised language.
