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Additional official languages include Gurung, Limbu, Magar, Sunuwar, Newar, Rai, Sherpa and Tamang for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state. Nepali is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Sikkimese (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas. [14] English is also spoken and understood in most of Sikkim.
Sikkim (/ ˈ s ɪ k ɪ m / SIK-im; Nepali:) is a state in northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Koshi Province of Nepal in the west, and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siliguri Corridor, which borders Bangladesh.
Nepali is the most widely spoken language in Sikkim as well as Gangtok. [61] English and Hindi being the official language of Sikkim and India respectively, are also widely spoken and understood in most of Sikkim, particularly in Gangtok. [62] [63] Other languages spoken in Gangtok include Bhutia , Tibetan and Lepcha.
The Sikkim census of 2011 found that Sikkim was the least populated state of India. Sikkim's population according to the 2011 Census was 610,577, and has grown by approximately 100,000 since the last census. [16] The Nepali/Gorkhali language is the lingua franca of Sikkim, while Tibetan (Bhutia) and Lepcha are spoken in certain areas.
The Lepcha and Limbu is the earliest ethnic group to have settled in Sikkim.The word Sikkim was derived from "Sukhim" in Limbu language meaning new palace. They believe they are the autochthones while others considered that they were settled by the thirteenth century, coming from the hills before the arrival of the Tibetan Bhutias. [5]
In Sikkim as a whole they are considered to be around 15% of the population of the state. [10] The Lepcha people were earlier ruled by Pano (King) Gaeboo Achyok. Gaeboo Achyok was instrumental in uniting the Lepcha people and to honour him, the Lepcha people celebrate 20 December of every year as Gaeboo Achyok celebrations day.
Rai Community of Sikkim representing Tableau of Sakewa Sili on 63rd Indian Republic Day 2012 Rajpath New Delhi. Sakela (also Sakewa or Sakenwa) (Nepali: साकेला) is one of the main festival of Khambu (Rai people), an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling regions of India.
A popular vote for Sikkim to join the Indian Union failed and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru agreed to a special protectorate status for Sikkim. Sikkim was to be a tributary of India, in which India controlled its external defence, diplomacy and communication. A state council was established in 1953 to allow for the constitutional ...