The culture of Darjeeling is quite diverse. Apart from the major Hindu religious festivals like Diwali, Christmas, Dussera, Holi, Ram Navami etc., the diverse ethnic populace of the town also celebrates several local festivals. The Tibetan ethnic groups like the Lepchas, Bhutias, Gurungs, and Tamangs celebrate New Year, also called Loshar, in January/February. Other festivals like Maghe Sankranti, Chotrul Duchen, Buddha Jayanti, and Tendong Lho Rumfaat, to name a few, provide the "regional distinctness" of Darjeeling's local culture from the rest of India. Darjeeling Carnival, initiated by a civil society movement known as The Darjeeling Initiative, is a ten-day carnival held every year during winter that especially portrays the rich musical and cultural heritage of Darjeeling Hills as its central theme.
Traditional dances in Darjeeling include the jhaure dance, chutkay dance, maruni dance and Tamang selos, which find their origins in Nepal. Other forms of dance include the Tibetan Chaam performed with elaborate costumes and masks during the eve of Loshar, the Tibetan New Year.
Undeniably, the most popular food of Darjeeling is the Momo. Momo's are steamed dumplings stuffed with either pork, beef or vegetables and served with a spicy chili and tomato paste along with soup. Another popular dish is the thukpa, which is a noodle dish with meat and/or vegetables in soup. Apart from these dishes, the restaurants in Darjeeling offer a wide variety of traditional Indian, continental and Chinese cuisines to cater to different palates.
Dance
The Nepalese in Darjeeling are rich in folk culture. The hills and dales are the treasure house of songs and dances of the hill folk.
The panorama of the Majestic Himalayan Mountains, its lush green hills and forests seem to have played a significant role in influencing the religion and culture. The folk songs and dances of the Nepalese people, inhabiting in and around the Himalayan regions have been influenced by the serene, romantic and poetic shades of the place. Even the two major religions viz. Hinduism and Buddhism seems to have influenced the Nepali culture, which is full of its rich folk songs and dances, to co-existing side by side.
The earlier cave paintings, religious rites and temple songs and dances have also played a significant role in influencing Nepalese Folk songs and dances. Impressions of religious dances performed either to appease the Gods and Goddesses or to ward-off evil spirits, can also be seen distinctly in performing arts of the Nepalese people.
The following are some of the most popular Nepali folk dances.
1. Maruni Nach.
2. Dhan Naach.
3. Jhankri Naach.
4. Jatra Naach.
5. Damphu Naach.
6. Khukuri Naach.
7. Deora Naach.
8. Panchay Naach.
9. Dhimay Naach.
10. Sanginy Naach.
11. Balan Naach.
12. Jhyauray Naach.
13. Paschimay Chutki.
14. Rodhighar Naach.
15. Baton Naach.
16. Jhumara Naach.
17. Sakhia Naach.
Artifacts
Among the artistic crafts "ornaments, trinkets and handlooms" are worth mentioning. One can also find fine craftsmanship in woodwork and bamboo fretwork. While the principal utility products are blankets, woollen knitted garments and woven fabrics, the artistic products are handbags, wall panels, fire screens, folding partitions, Bhutan paintings, cotton shoulder bags etc. Beautiful curios are made at Darjeeling and Kalimpong on copper plates studded with red and blue stones with engravings of replicas of deities. Wonderful Tankas with paintings depicting the life of Lord Buddha are also available. Woolen carpets are made in a combination of shades in vegetable and synthetic dyes. Bhutia chaddars in beautiful textures can also be found. Decorative Nepali khukris are made in Ghum. Bedroom slippers and rope-sole shoes, jackets, hats, hanzu coats made from handloom cloth and masks are among the many items that attract tourists and curio collectors.
Festivals
Tibetan New Year (Loshar)
Festivals and Events in Darjeeling are reflections of the diverse Indian culture and tradition that has developed through ages. Since it is the homeland of many different religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and to an extent Christianity at the same time, many festivals take place throughout the year.
The Tibetans, who constitutes a major part of the population, celebrate the Loshar Festival in Darjeeling with great flare and festivity. The end of January marks the end of the Tibetan Year. To avert the negativity of the old year, most of the monasteries in the area have Cham (Tibetan Dance) during this time of the year. Loshar Festival in Darjeeling usually falls in the month of February. It is an important festival in the Tibetan calendar year and its celebration continues for a week. The youthful Tibetans celebrates it with great enthusiasm and spirit. The youth take to the streets performing the traditional Yak dance dressed in multi coloured clothes. They walk down the street singing and dancing with sacred folk lores that fill the air making the atmosphere electrifying.
Dalai Lama Birthday Celebration
During the months of July and August, the people of Darjeeling celebrate the birthday of Dalai Lama. They make this occasion very illustrious with processions.
Orange Festival
To promote the Samsing-Jaldhaka area in the foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya under Darjeeling Hills as a major orange growing landscape, the Orange Festival takes place every year. This festival is organised mainly to promote community-based tourism, ecological conservation, Indo-Bhutan friendship and peace.
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is to celebrate the Birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Prayers are sung and the Buddhists offer worship in all the major Buddhist shrines such as Tamang Buddhist Monastery, Dali Monastery, Aloobari Monastery etc. The next morning a giant figure of Lord Buddha is displayed to all the followers and hundreds of small shrines are visited and worshipped. Large groups of people parade through the streets praising the Lord and his teachings. Special flags usually red, blue, yellow and white are raised high above all the Buddhist households.
Traditional dances in Darjeeling include the jhaure dance, chutkay dance, maruni dance and Tamang selos, which find their origins in Nepal. Other forms of dance include the Tibetan Chaam performed with elaborate costumes and masks during the eve of Loshar, the Tibetan New Year.
Undeniably, the most popular food of Darjeeling is the Momo. Momo's are steamed dumplings stuffed with either pork, beef or vegetables and served with a spicy chili and tomato paste along with soup. Another popular dish is the thukpa, which is a noodle dish with meat and/or vegetables in soup. Apart from these dishes, the restaurants in Darjeeling offer a wide variety of traditional Indian, continental and Chinese cuisines to cater to different palates.
Dance
The Nepalese in Darjeeling are rich in folk culture. The hills and dales are the treasure house of songs and dances of the hill folk.
The panorama of the Majestic Himalayan Mountains, its lush green hills and forests seem to have played a significant role in influencing the religion and culture. The folk songs and dances of the Nepalese people, inhabiting in and around the Himalayan regions have been influenced by the serene, romantic and poetic shades of the place. Even the two major religions viz. Hinduism and Buddhism seems to have influenced the Nepali culture, which is full of its rich folk songs and dances, to co-existing side by side.
The earlier cave paintings, religious rites and temple songs and dances have also played a significant role in influencing Nepalese Folk songs and dances. Impressions of religious dances performed either to appease the Gods and Goddesses or to ward-off evil spirits, can also be seen distinctly in performing arts of the Nepalese people.
The following are some of the most popular Nepali folk dances.
1. Maruni Nach.
2. Dhan Naach.
3. Jhankri Naach.
4. Jatra Naach.
5. Damphu Naach.
6. Khukuri Naach.
7. Deora Naach.
8. Panchay Naach.
9. Dhimay Naach.
10. Sanginy Naach.
11. Balan Naach.
12. Jhyauray Naach.
13. Paschimay Chutki.
14. Rodhighar Naach.
15. Baton Naach.
16. Jhumara Naach.
17. Sakhia Naach.
Artifacts
Among the artistic crafts "ornaments, trinkets and handlooms" are worth mentioning. One can also find fine craftsmanship in woodwork and bamboo fretwork. While the principal utility products are blankets, woollen knitted garments and woven fabrics, the artistic products are handbags, wall panels, fire screens, folding partitions, Bhutan paintings, cotton shoulder bags etc. Beautiful curios are made at Darjeeling and Kalimpong on copper plates studded with red and blue stones with engravings of replicas of deities. Wonderful Tankas with paintings depicting the life of Lord Buddha are also available. Woolen carpets are made in a combination of shades in vegetable and synthetic dyes. Bhutia chaddars in beautiful textures can also be found. Decorative Nepali khukris are made in Ghum. Bedroom slippers and rope-sole shoes, jackets, hats, hanzu coats made from handloom cloth and masks are among the many items that attract tourists and curio collectors.
Festivals
Tibetan New Year (Loshar)
Festivals and Events in Darjeeling are reflections of the diverse Indian culture and tradition that has developed through ages. Since it is the homeland of many different religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and to an extent Christianity at the same time, many festivals take place throughout the year.
The Tibetans, who constitutes a major part of the population, celebrate the Loshar Festival in Darjeeling with great flare and festivity. The end of January marks the end of the Tibetan Year. To avert the negativity of the old year, most of the monasteries in the area have Cham (Tibetan Dance) during this time of the year. Loshar Festival in Darjeeling usually falls in the month of February. It is an important festival in the Tibetan calendar year and its celebration continues for a week. The youthful Tibetans celebrates it with great enthusiasm and spirit. The youth take to the streets performing the traditional Yak dance dressed in multi coloured clothes. They walk down the street singing and dancing with sacred folk lores that fill the air making the atmosphere electrifying.
Dalai Lama Birthday Celebration
During the months of July and August, the people of Darjeeling celebrate the birthday of Dalai Lama. They make this occasion very illustrious with processions.
Orange Festival
To promote the Samsing-Jaldhaka area in the foothills of the Bhutan Himalaya under Darjeeling Hills as a major orange growing landscape, the Orange Festival takes place every year. This festival is organised mainly to promote community-based tourism, ecological conservation, Indo-Bhutan friendship and peace.
Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is to celebrate the Birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Prayers are sung and the Buddhists offer worship in all the major Buddhist shrines such as Tamang Buddhist Monastery, Dali Monastery, Aloobari Monastery etc. The next morning a giant figure of Lord Buddha is displayed to all the followers and hundreds of small shrines are visited and worshipped. Large groups of people parade through the streets praising the Lord and his teachings. Special flags usually red, blue, yellow and white are raised high above all the Buddhist households.
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