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FESTIVALS The Sikkimese Nepalese celebrate all major Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Dussehra. Local festivals like Maghe Sankranti and Bhimsen Puja are common. Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals. During the Losar (Tibetan New Year) most offices and educational institutions are closed for a week. Muslims celebrate Id-ul-fitr and Muharram. Christmas has also been promoted in Sikkim. The Sikkimese Nepalese celebrate all major Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Dussera. Local festivals like Maghe Sankranti and Bhimsen Puja are common. Losar, Loosong, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duechen, Drupka Teshi and Bhumchu are Buddhist festivals. During the Losar (Tibetan New Year) most offices and educational institutions are closed for a week. Muslims celebrate Id-ul-fitr and Muharram. Christmas has also been promoted in in the state. Saga Dawa It is an important day for the Mahayana Buddhists as it celebrates the three most important phases of Gautama Buddha – his birth, his enlightenment and his attaining nirvana. This triple celebration, which is the biggest in Sikkim, is observed on the full moon of the fourth month of the lunar calendar of the Buddhists and typically falls between the end of May to beginning of June – what the rest of India celebrates as Buddh Poornima. The day is celebrated with people paying a visit to the Sikkim monasteries and offering lamps of butter to show their devotion and love. Pang Lhabsol Considered to be one of the most important festivals of North East Indian state of Sikkim, Losoong or Namsoong marks the beginning of the Sikkimese New Year and is celebrated with great joy and fervour all across the region. The festival coincides with the end of the harvesting season and provides for the much-needed time of merriment and excitement for all the farmers who have worked hard throughout the year. It is the Farmer's New Year is like the Baisakhi festival of the North where farmers celebrates their bountiful harvest where the lama dances keeping in tradition of the expulsion of the evil spirit and to welcome the new spirit via the New Year. International Flower Festival This festival is held in Gangtok every year in the month of May, is another example of Sikkim’s respect for nature. Featuring over 600 species of orchids, 240 species of trees and ferns and special species of flowers, this festival captivates the eyes of the visitors with its flawless beauty. Orchids, gladioli, ferns, herbs, roses, cacti, creepers, you name it they have it on display. The colorful display and the intoxicating fragrance of so many flowers mingling will definitely soothe your soul . Losar -Tibetan New Year Losar also known as Tibetan New Year, is a festival in Tibetan Buddhism, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar, which corresponds to a date in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. Celebrated in the month of February, the Gyalpo Losar is about offering flowers to the monasteries, visiting friends and families and hoping for a better year. FOOD Thukpa Thukpa is a kind of noodle soup of Tibetan origin that has found its way to being one of the most loved food in Sikkim. One can find both vegetarian and chicken versions of the dish. One can find almost every kind of locally grown vegetable in this soup, but the most common ones are carrots, bell peppers, spinach, cauliflower and celery. Thukpa is available in almost every cafe and restaurant, but it is better to try it from a local vendor as they provide you with the best and most authentic taste that you can find. Phagshapa Phagshapa is a strip of pork fat that is stewed with dry chillies and radish. A spicy and tangy endeavour of this Sikkimese dish is rich in proteins and is made with no oil. The Golden Dragon hotel in Gangtok serves the most authentic and delicious Phagshapa in the whole of Sikkim. Sha Phaley Bread stuffed with ground beef and cabbage made into semi-circles and then deep-fried is everything that you need to know about this famous food of Sikkim. Crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside, this is what you get when you take the first bite into the golden fried dumpling. With different people having different dietary demands, many variations have been done to the traditional dish. Among the more popular variations of the dish include cheese and tofu versions. The Roll House in Gangtok is the best place to try one of these . Dal Bhat Dal Bhat is nothing but a Lentil Soup with Rice. Dal Bhat is a staple food in Sikkim which is served with tarkari (vegetable curry) or meat and chutney. Dal Bhat interestingly is a staple in many kinds of cuisines from South Asia. COSTUMES COSTUMES FOR WOMEN The sikkim traditional costumes of Lepcha women called Dumvum or Dumdyam, it is a type of cozy and smooth ankle-long costume,dressed like a traditional saree.It is worn my many women throughout in Sikkim. Tago is another beautiful dress which is a loose- fitted worn with with blouse called as Nyamrek, a type of belt and Taro, a traditional headgear.this seems very beautiful and attached with blouse. COSTUMES FOR MEN The male Lepcha mostly wear Thorko-Dum that includes a pajama, shirt,Shamboo[headgear] and Yenthatse.Mostly Sikkim people do the hard work so the costumes also seem very rough and comfort to do the field work. FAMOUS PERSONALITIES Lako Phuti Bhutia Lako Phuti Bhutia (born 20 October 1994 in Sikkim) is an Indian women footballer who currently plays for Gokulam Kerala FC and the India women's national football team. Prem Singh Tamang Prem Singh Tamang (born 5 February 1968), better known as P. S. Golay, is an Indian politician and the current Chief Minister of Sikkim and leader and founder of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM). Geetanjali Thapa Geetanjali Thapa is an Indian film actress. Born and raised in Sikkim, she won the National Film Award for Best Actress (2013) for her performance in Liar's Dice. Omi Gurung A reputed fashion designer, Omi Gurung was born and brought up in Sikkim. Before becoming a full-time designer, he worked as a fashion editor. He owns a very popular eco-friendly boutique called Green Gangtok. Danny Denzongpa He was one of Hindi cinema's favorite villains of the 70s and 80s. Born in Gangtok, Danny did his schooling from the state capital. Alumni of Film and Television Institute of India (FTTI), he soon joined the film industry. Apart from being part of numerous Hindi films, Danny also has to his credit the famous international film "Seven Years in Tibet . FAMOUS WRITERS AND POETS GADUL SINGH LAMA Gadul Singh Lama,popularly known as Sanu Lama, is an fictional writer,poet and translator of Nepali Literature born in Gangtok, Sikkim. He has published three short stories which are translated into many languages. He was awarded with many awards like Padma Shri Sahitya Akademi Award,Sikkim Bhanu Puraskar, Madan Byakhanmala Puraskar and many more. KEDAR NATH GURUNG Kedar Nath Gurung was born on 9 July 1948 at the village of Sardong, Lingchom, in the Indian state of Sikkim. He did his early schooling at the local school in Lingchom and joined Turnbull High School, Darjeeling from where he passed the matriculation examination in 1960.Gurung started his career as a teacher but, later, opened a book shop for living . GURUNG Gurung is credited with 15 publications composed of poetry, essays and literary criticisms. His works include four poetry collections, Aja Pheri Auta Samajhna Ra Naya Dinharoo (1970), Tarangamathi Lahar Lagera Aeko Arko Prahara (1973), Mahashathiharooko Pooja (1979) and Urlanchchan Chalharoo Samaya Ra Jwarbhataharoo Jastai (1995). He is a recipient of the Bhanu Puraskar from the Sikkim Sahitya Parishad.The of India included him in the 2012 Republic Day honours list for the award of Padma Shri. PANKAJ GIRI Pankaj Giri was born and brought up in Gangtok, Sikkim—a picturesque hill station in India. He began his writing career with a book review blog and after several years of honing his writing skills, he wrote his debut solo novel The Fragile Thread of Hope. The inspirational fiction novel was selected as a “Top 5 Finalist” in the Amazon Pen to Publish Contest 2017 and received critical acclaim worldwide . Thank you! Dakshita Kharb 10 B