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Sikkim is sheer magic. This is not just the
most beautiful place in the world but
cleanest and safest too. If once the charms
of the State were limited to mists,
mountains and colourful butterflies, they
are now complimented by tangible development
and progress. With its unique culture and
natural landscape, Sikkim is a picture of
perfection and pristine purity. Nestled in
the Himalayas and endowed with exceptional
natural resources, Sikkim is a hotspot of
biodiversity and development. Though small
in size, yet Sikkim has been identified
world over as an important repository of
germplasms of unknown dimensions. Perhaps,
there is no part of the world, which offers
a spectacular scene with every turn of the
road as Sikkim. Though land-locked, Sikkim
is one of the most beautiful and
strategically important state of the Indian
Union.
Bounded by foreign nations on three sides,
it shares its boundary with the sister state
of West Bengal. Surrounded on three sides by
precipitous mountain walls, Sikkim appears
as a small rectangular Gem. Sikkim is like a
stupendous stairway leading from the western
border of the Tibetan plateau down to the
plains of West Bengal, with a fall of about
5,215 metres in 240 kms. Sikkim, in the west
is bound by the north-south spur of the
Great Himalayan Range which includes the
world's third highest peak, Khangchendzonga
and down to its south is Singalila ridge. In
the north it is bound by Dongkia range and
also partly includes the Tibetan Plateau. In
the east it is bound by the Chola range. The
average steepness is about 45 degree. Sikkim
is the main catchment area for the beautiful
river Teesta, which has its main source from
Chho Lhamo lake in the north and is further
strengthened by many streams and rivers of
which Tholung, Lachung, Great Rangeet and
Rangpo are important drainers. It also has
about 180 perennial lakes, among which
Khachoedpalri, Gurudongmar, Chho Lhamo and
Men Moi Tso are some of the most scenic.
Dominating both legend and landscape of
Sikkim is the mighty Khangchendzonga. Known
to outside world as Kanchenjunga, it is the
third highest peak in the world. But to the
Sikkemese it is much more than a mountain:
Khangchendzonga is the Guardian deity, a
country God whose benign watchfulness
ensures peace and prosperity for the land.
The five peaks of Khangchendzonga are the
five Treasures of the Eternal Snow, a belief
beautifully interpreted by the great Lama
Lhatsun Chenpo: “The peak most conspicuously
gilded by the rising sun is the treasury of
gold, the peak that remains in cold grey
shade is the storehouse for silver and other
peaks are vaults for gems, grains and the
holy books.” Each of the five peaks is
believed to be crowned by an animal—the
highest by a tiger and others by a lion,
elephant, horse and the mythical bird
Garuda. Along with the Guardian deity, the
Nepal Peak, Tent Peak, Pyramid, Jonsang,
Lhonak, Pahunri etc. and glaciers like Zemu,
Changsang, Teesta, Changme are also
important. The most important passes are
Jelep-la, Nathu-la, Cho-la and Thanka-la in
the east; Donkiua, Kongralamu and Naku in
the north and Kanglanangma and Chia
Bhanjyang in the west.
The divine status of the mountain,
sanctified by legend, has been made enduring
by the widespread worship of Khangchendzonga
by all the people of Sikkim - Lepchas,
Bhutias and Nepalese alike. The God is
depicted as being red of colour, armed and
mounted on a white snow lion; offerings are
made to this majestic presence, ceremonies
are held in his name and dances consecrated
to him. Pang Lhabsol is one of the famous
festivals of Sikkim which is a thanks giving
celebration in honour of Sikkim’s presiding
deity, Khangchendzonga. Dancers portray the
guardian deity, its supreme commander Yabdu
and the God Mahakala. It is a warrior dance
and the dancers are chosen for their
physical strength, quick reflexes and skill
swordsmanship.
Now a word about the origin of the term
Sikkim itself. The various ethnic groups
have their own nomenclature. As far as the
Lepcha and the Bhutia names are concerned,
Waddel has it that, " the Lepchas call it
Nelyang or 'The place of caves'. Lepchas
also call it Myel Lyang, which means “the
land of hidden paradise or the delightful
region or abode". While the Bhutias call it
Beyul Demazong or “the hidden valley of
rice."” Another version says that "Tensung
Namgyal married three wives, a Tibetan, a
Bhutanese and a Limbu girl. The Limbu girl,
daughter of Limbu Chief Yo- Yo- Hang,
brought seven maidens with her. These
maidens were married into leading families
of Sikkim. These Limbu maidens who had come
to Sikkim for the marries' called the place
'Sukhim' or "bride's new house", comfortable
home. The Nepalis who came to Sikkim could
not relate to Limbu pronouncement and thus
corrupted the name to Sukkhim which
underwent further distortion. |
