12/7/2019 Culture of Darjeeling - Wikipedia

Culture of Darjeeling
The culture of Darjeeling, India, is quite diverse and unique. The two
predominant religions are Hinduism and Vajrayana Buddhism. Dashain,
Tihar, Buddha Jayanti, Christmas, Holi, Ram Navami, etc. are the main
festivals. Besides, the diverse ethnic populace of the town also celebrates
several local festivals. Buddhist ethnic groups such as the Lepchas, Bhutias,
Sherpas, Yolmos, Gurungs, and Tamangs celebrate new year called Losar
in January/February, Maghe Sankranti, Chotrul Duchen, and Tendong Lho
Rumfaat. The Kiranti Rai people (Khambus) celebrate their annual Sakela
Colourful Buddhist prayer flags
festivals of Ubhauli and Udhauli. Deusi and Bhaileni are songs performed
around Mahakal Temple at
by men and women, respectively, during the festival of Tihar. All these
Observatory Hill, Darjeeling.
provide a "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, was a ten-day carnival held yearly during
winter that portrayed the rich musical and cultural heritage of Darjeeling
Hills as its central theme.[1] Every year, cultural festivals are held in the
town of Darjeeling and its surrounding areas.

The people of Darjeeling consume a diverse variety of foods. Each ethnic

group has its own distinct traditional food. A popular food in Darjeeling is
the momo, a steamed dumpling containing chicken, mutton, pork, beef or
vegetables cooked in a doughy wrapping served with a watery vegetable
St. Andrew's Church, Darjeeling.
soup and spicy tomato sauce/chutney. Indigenous fermented food Built- 1843, Rebuilt- 1873
products such as gundruk (fermented and dried leafy vegetable), kinema
(fermented soybean), and sinki (fermented and dried raddish) are
consumed by the people. Wai-Wai is a favorite packaged snack of
Darjeeling hills comprising noodles that are eaten either dry or with soup.
Hard chhurpi, a type of hard cheese made from cow or yak's milk, is
another popular mini-snack that is both nutritious and masticatory. Soft
chhurpi, a traditional soft cheese, is consumed along with green vegetables
as savoury dishes, used as filling for momos, ground with tomatoes and
chillies for chutney or made into a refreshing soup. A type of noodle called
thukpa, served with soup and vegetables/meat, is extremely popular in and
around the hills of Darjeeling. There are a number of restaurants offering a
variety of traditional Indian, Continental and Indian Chinese cuisine to
cater to tourists. Tea is the most popular beverage, procured from the
famed Darjeeling tea gardens, as well as coffee. Chhang or jaanr is a local
alcoholic beverage made from fermented millet, maize or rice.

Colonial architecture characterizes many buildings in Darjeeling; several

mock Tudor residences, Gothic churches, the Raj Bhawan (Governor
House), Planters' Club and various educational institutions are examples.
St. Andrew's Church, Darjeeling. A
Buddhist monasteries showcase the pagoda style architecture. Darjeeling is view from the downhill side road,
regarded as a center of music and a hotbed for musicians and music May'17
admirers. Singing and playing musical instruments is a common pastime
among the resident population, who take pride in the traditions and role of

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12/7/2019 Culture of Darjeeling - Wikipedia

music in their cultural life.[2] Western music is popular among the younger
generation, and Darjeeling is a major centre of Nepali rock music. Prashant
Tamang the winner of Indian Idol 3 is a resident of Darjeeling. Football is
the most popular sports in Darjeeling. An improvised form of ball made of
rubber garters is often used for playing in the steep streets.

Some notable places to visit include the Tiger Hill, the zoo, monasteries
and the tea gardens. The town attracts trekkers and sportsmen seeking to
explore the Himalayas, serving as the starting point for climbing attempts St. Andrew's Church, Darjeeling:
on some Nepali peaks. Nepali Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay, one of During snowfall
the two men to first climb Mount Everest, spent most of his adult life in the
Sherpa community in Darjeeling. His success provided the impetus to
establish the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute in Darjeeling in 1954. In the Tibetan Refugee Self Help Center,
Tibetan crafts like carpets, wood and leather work are displayed. Several monasteries like Ghum Monastery (8 km or
5 miles from the town), Bhutia Busty monastery, Mag-Dhog Yolmowa preserve ancient Buddhist scripts.

See also
Chowrasta

Culture of West Bengal

References
1. Chattopadhyay, S.S. (December 2003). "The spirit of Darjeeling" (https://web.archive.org/web/20060513215230/h
ttp://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219000306600.htm). Frontline. 20 (25). Archived from the
original (http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2025/stories/20031219000306600.htm) on 13 May 2006. Retrieved
1 May 2006.
2. Rasaily DP, Lama RP. "The Nature-centric Culture of the Nepalese" (https://web.archive.org/web/2006071522412
2/http://ignca.nic.in/cd_07011.htm). The Cultural Dimension of Ecology. Indira Gandhi National Centre for the
Arts, New Delhi. Archived from the original (http://ignca.nic.in/cd_07011.htm) on 15 July 2006. Retrieved 31 July
2006.

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