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TYOHAR- This is a three-day
festival of lights celebrated 18 days after Dasain.
 LOSOONG-It is the Sikkimese New
Year Celebrated during the last week of the 11th
month- December- January.
NAMBUN-it is the Lepcha New Year
Day, which falls around last week of December.
SAGA DAWA -also known as the
Triple blessed Festival, it is a very auspicious day for
the Mahayana Buddhist. It is celebrated in memory of Lord
Buddha attaining Nirvana. It falls on the full moon day of
the 4th not of lunar calendar around end of May
and early June. On this day people go to monasteries to
offer butter lamps and worship. A huge religious
procession of monks goes around Gangtok with Holy
Scriptures.
KAGYED DANCE- It is performed on
the 28th and 29th day of the 10th
month of the Tibetan Calendar, around December. This dance
is performed symbolizing the destruction of the evil
forces and hoping for peace and prosperity to flourish in
every Sikkimese home. The dancers of this is extremely
popular Chaam are always monks who are accompanied
liturgical music and chanting. The solemn nature of the
dance is interspersed with comic relief provided by the
jesters. Kagyed dances enact various themes from the
Buddhist mythology and culminate with the burning of
effigies made of flour, wood and paper.
ZO MAL LOK - This is a popular
folk dance of the Lepcha community depicting the sowing,
reaping and harvesting of paddy. Farming folks, mostly
relatives and friends of every family - the old and young
folk alike – join hands in the process if singing and
dancing - a merrymaking spree.
 CHU FAAT - This age-old folk
dance of Lepchas is performed in honour of the Mount
Khangchendzonga and its four associate peaks, Mt.Pandim,
Mt. Kabru, Mt. Simbrum and Mt. Narshing. These five snowy
peaks are believed to be the repository of five hidden
treasures such as Salt, Medicine, Minerals, Sacred books
and Food grains. Carrying butter lamps and green bamboo
leaves, the dancers perform this ritualistic dance with
the devotional songs. It is performed on the fifteenth day
of the devotional songs. It is performed on the fifteenth
day of the seventh month of the Northern Buddhist calendar
every year.
KAR GNOK LOK- or literally
meaning “Dance of Swans” is a famous Lepcha folk dance
which depicts the sojourn of a group of migratory swans
who take a flight from the warm plains towards the cold
Himalayan region in the month of February/March and from
cold region to the warm plain in the month of
October/November. The seasonal migratory flight of these
swans guide the Lepchas top begins sowing and harvesting
their crops.
DHARMA JO - This is a popular
folk dance of Lepcha community depicting the harvesting
season.
MON DRYAK LOK - It is a Lepcha
hunting dance who are supposed to be skilled hunters. They
never kill the wild animals and birds for pleasure. Their
hunting approach is highly ritualistic. This dance depicts
Lepcha’s hunting approach style carrying bows and arrows
as their weapons.
TENDONG HLO FAAT- It is a Lepcha
folklore, which is often retold to the new generation in
lyrical poetry. This folklore corresponds to the divine
occurrences as described in the Indian Vedas ‘Matsya
Purana’ and in Bible as the ‘Great Flood’.
MUN HAIT LOK- It is a
ritualistic Lepcha folk dance performed by both male and
female to the accompaniment of devotional hymns. This
dance depicts the’ Mun’ or the Witch doctor performing the
age-old ritualistic dance.
TASHI SHABDO- This age-old dance
depicts the custom of offering scarves on auspicious
occasions. Young boys and girls perform this dance
carrying snow-white scarves in their hands, which is a
symbol of purity, peace and prosperity.
YAK CHAAM- This dance depicts
the yak and projects the simple life style of the herdsman
in the mountains.
SINGHI CHAAM-The associate five
peaks of the scared Mount Khangchendzonga looks like the
legendary snow lion, which is considered an important
cultural symbol of the State and is elaborately depicted
in the Singhi Chaam or the Snow Lion Dance.
TALACHI - It is fabled that a
king once lost his favourite horse. A search party was
sent to look for the royal steed. As they proceed along
the solitary path amidst hills and forests, the searchers
sang lively songs and danced ending the monotony of their
long sojourn.
LU KHANGTHAMO- It is dedicated
to this day – a day of thanks giving to all Gods and
deities of the three worlds, Heaven, Earth and Hell. This
age old folk dance is performed regularly by the young and
old folk alike in their traditional customs and ornaments
accompanied by the pleasing song and music on the occasion
like warming and New Year celebrations. It is a Bhutia
folk dance.
GHA TO KITO- It is a song cum
dance which describes all about the treasures of Sikkim
like Mount Khangchendzonga and the snow covered Himalayan
ranges, rhododendrons and primulas, holy places, caves ad
minerals. It is a Bhutia folk dance.
BE YUL MISTA-It is a popular
Bhutia fold dance. Performed in praise of Sikkim by group
of males and females with pleasing songs and prayers.
CHI RIMU-It is a popular Bhutia
fold dance, performed in praise of Sikkim by young and old
folks. This dance is a regular feature in every happy
occasion, when Bhutias express reverence to great to great
teachers and sacred places of worship.
RECHUNGMA-It is typical
Sikkimese dance performed during the happy occasions like
childbirth, marriage and other social gatherings, offer
paying their sincere thanks to the god for his blessings.
GNUNGMALA GNUNGSHEY- It is a
typical Bhutia fold dance performed in praise, by both
male and female to the accompaniment of devotional hymns
and song of the multi purpose majestic bamboos, describing
its use.
TASHI ZALDHA-It is a dance
depicting the Bhutia custom of offering scarves, performed
by boys and girls.
TAMANG SELO-This dance popularly
known, as ‘Damphoo Dance’ is a Nepali folk dance
patronized by the Tamangs. Dampoo is the traditional
musical instrument of the Tamangs. It is always full of
fun and vigour and the brisk movement and rhythmic beat of
the Dampoo depicts a style peculiar to the Tamangs. It is
performed on occasions like marriage ceremony, childbirth
and village fairs etc.
SEBRU NAACH- This dance depicts
the life – style of the Sherpas, who are very fond of
songs and dances. Their songs include praises for the
colourful flora and fauna and the breath taking scenic
beauty of the Himalayan ranges.
MARUNI-It is one of the oldest
and most popular dances of the Nepalese, always performed
by young girls embellished with colourful costumes and
rich ornaments. It is performed on the occasion of
‘Dewali’ or ‘Tyohar’ which is celebrated as the ‘Festival
of lights’. The maruni dancers play a musical visit from
house to house singing and dancing, invoking the blessing
of Gods and Goddesses on the houses they visit. There is
also a presence of man called ‘Dhatu – Waray’ who acts as
a court jester wearing funny masks and awkward clothes.
The movement of traditional flavour, elegance and
expression till today.
SORATHI- This dance is an
exclusive possession of the Gurungs. In the olden times it
is said that one of the Gurung Kings had 1600 queens, but
had no heir. In despair, he then started snatching
valuable ornaments from his queens and sold them for his
earthly pleasure. This dance depicts how the poor queens
express their grievances.
CHYAP BRUNG-It is Limboo’s
traditional musical instrument. The dancers hang the
‘Chyap-brungs’ around their necks and beat the drum with
an open palm on one side and with a stick on the other
side. This manoeuvres produces two different sounds. In
this fashion, groups of Limboos or Subba men dance
executing delicate and complicated footwork son the
hypnotic beats of the Chyap-Brung. It is song less dance,
which is only rhythmic music. In this age-old fold dance
the Limboo dancers depict graceful movements of wild
animals and birds.
MAJHI NAACH-It is folk dance of
the majhis or the fishermen of Nepalese origin. It
portrays his hope, inspiration, love and a desire of
sharing his joy with others. This dance depicts the life
style of the Majhis.
DHAAN NAACH-It is a folk dance
performed by the Nepali community which projects cultural
heritage of them. It has become since time immemorial. It
is a ritualistic dance performed by young and old folks
alike in their traditional costumes.
DAU RA JANE-This typical Nepali
dance is performed during the happy occasion by the young
girls in their traditional and colourful costumes.
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Mount Khangchendzonga, the ‘Guardian Deity’ of Sikkim and
to Yabdu, the supreme commander of Mt. Khangchendzonga. It
is celebration on the 15th day of the 7th
month around end of August or early September. The masked
warrior dance is especially spectacular. Khangchendzonga
is represented by a red mask and her commander Yabdu a
black one. The warriors who accompany wear traditional
Armour of helmets, swords and shields. The dramatic entry
of Mahakala (Protector of the Dharma) is one of the
highlights of the festivals.