ISSN : 2663-2187

Indigenous Bamboo Technology Promoting the Socio-Cultural Life of the Lepchas in Sikkim: With Special Reference to Dzongu, A Lepcha Reserve

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Mayalmit Lepcha, Dr. Anira Phipon Lepcha
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.14.2024.4864-4872

Abstract

India is culturally diversified, with a rich heritage of craft skills and local resources that has a flow of historical events founded upon diverse people's social practises and religious beliefs, which is a tremendous blessing for the country. Traditional arts and crafts play an important role in everyday life in India. With such a diversified culture in India, Sikkim provides a perfect blend of indigenous arts and crafts made from local resources, contributing to the development of textiles in India. The bamboo crafts have evolved into a form of applied art that has documented the local people's history and culture and served as a means of everyday living for generations. They represent a traditional regional culture in and of itself. Since bamboo is a locally available material related to its geographic location, changes in local cultural events are also reflected in the evolution of bamboo crafts, which have long served as symbols of this kind of culture. The use of bamboo as a source of living among the Lepchas is as old as humanity. The traditional methods of using bamboo by the Lepchas in Dzongu have shaped the indigeneity of the Lepchas more profoundly. The Lepchas are indigenous people living in Sikkim, mostly in Dzongu. The bond between the Lepchas and bamboo dates back to time immemorial. The paper focuses on the bamboo technology of the Lepchas in shaping their socio-cultural life, bringing back indigenous knowledge and taking pride in their indigeneity.

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