Proud to be a Sikkimese: Sikkim Travel, Culture & Local Heritage

The photograph from the early 80s captures a nostalgic scene featuring various modes of transportation that were prevalent at the time. The luxury Fiat Premiere in the picture belonged to the late Sagarmul Agarwal, the father of our Nagar Panchayat Councillor, Mukesh Agarwal. Dipak Bhutra, one of our seniors at Singtam Bazaar, fondly recalls, "I was fortunate enough to get a few free rides in that car. Riding in the Fiat Premiere during those days felt like being royalty." Also visible in the photograph is a Mahindra jeep, parked at the extreme left, which belonged to Shri Tarachand Agarwal. This jeep was a common sight on the route between Singtam and Ravongla during those times. Bullock carts were the primary means of transporting goods from Bengal to Sikkim. Goods would first be transported from Siliguri to Rangpo (Bengal side), and then carried by bullock carts to Singtam. This image vividly captures a bygone era and the evolution of transportation in the region.

 

Indra Jatra's celebration over the years had brought every newar family of Sikkim under one roof. It was that one-day entire newar population within the state anxiously waits. But this year the Covid-19 pandemic had a different plan for everyone. This August 31, we have the Indra Jatra but it will be silently observed without the red-black-white coloured masses of devotees.   Sikkim Newar Guthi completed the 25 th year of its formation last year and on this big occasion; I wish to share the history of my home town Singtam’s Newa Sakha, its origin, and stories so far. The term 'Singtam Sakha' started in the early 90s and over the years it has its own narrative. Blessed by Goddess Kumari and God Indra, the newars of Singtam are among the emerging Sakhas who hold promises to make the Newars of Sikkim, a proud family.   The establishments of the Singtam bazaar date back to the late 1880s and with each decade passing by the people of Singtam had collectively come toge...

The earliest mention of the name Singtam is found in the 1888 Lepcha-Bhutia Grammar book, where the town of Singtam was among the ten popular places in Sikkim. A travel book published in the early 1940s mentions Singtam as a small river-side town with a Post Office. What is more fascinating is that it was not the present business capital of Singtam that was a sought-after marketplace more than eight decades back. Still, a little heard of Sirubari, now angelized Sirwani that was more popular than Singtam, and people far across the remote corner of the state would walk down to Sirubari to buy or exchange “siru” with their belongings. Singtam, at the moment, is the busiest town among the four districts, and its Friday haat is one of the most popular in the entire state. But the story wasn't the same eight decades back as it is today. Those days, the small siru bazaar of Sirubari (Sirwani) was well known. People would never mind walking all three days to reach this place to collect ...

Singtam Mandi Bazaar in 1979

{ Much before Ravangla was claimed 'the home of volleyball in Sikkim’; it was Singtam that had its synonyms with the game of volleyball. } Singtam is a major business 'power-house' town in the state of Sikkim and also the gateway to the other three districts of Sikkim. Once known in and across the state for its volleyball skills; Singtam of today is a crowded bazaar. Every small space in Singtam is filled with household buildings and shopping complexes. Old folks still talk about those golden days of the volleyball matches that were played here and how the small town of Singtam then had its own dignity and supremacy. Looking back at those bygone days when volleyball was not only a game but a religion, it is nothing more of nostalgia. The people of Singtam have always been great admirers of sports, be it cricket, football and, of course, volleyball. The Orchid Club of Singtam is now a part of Singtam folklore. When people talk of Singtam, it would always veer around volleyba...