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The Lepcha (Population: 50,000) are the aboriginal inhabitants of present day Sikkim. Many of them are found in Western and South-Western Bhutan, the Ilam district Eastern Nepal and even the hills of West Bengal.
The origin of the Lepcha is obscure. Some anthropologists suggested that they might have emigrated from Tibet long ago while others made a different but unlikely suggestion that the Lepchas might have been originally the inhabitants of South-East Tibet, who later migrated into places somewhere around Thailand and Burma. Restless people as they were, the Lepchas kept moving towards north-west Burma. Negotiating the turbulent Irrawady and Chindwin rivers, and also crossing the mighty Patkoi range, the Lepchas entered into what was an ancient India. Still moving westwards they passed through Bhutan before finally reaching the land around Kanchenjunga, and later intermingling with the Tibetan Bhutia will take place as well.
The Lepcha have their script, called Róng, which is based on the Tibetan alphabet. It was developed between the 17th and 18th century, by a Lepcha scholar named Thikúng Men Salóng. By historical coincidence, the world's largest collection of old Lepcha manuscripts is kept in Leiden, with over 180 Lepcha books.
Most Lepchas are Tibetan Buddhist by religion, which was brought by the Bhutias from the north, although a few have also adopted Christianity. However, the Lepcha have not give up their Shamanistic religion, which is known as Mun. Cases of Mun rituals overlapping with Buddhist rituals is not uncommon.
The Lepcha trace their descent patrilineally. Their marriage customs, due to strong Tibetan influence, is quite similar to the Bhutia. The marriage, which will be negotiated between the families of the bride and the groom. If the marrage deal is settled, the Lama will look through the Tibetan alamanac to match the horoscopes between the the boy and girl. The wedding will be scheduled on a favourable date. Then the boy's maternal uncle, along with other relatives, will approach the girl's maternal uncle with a khada, a ceremonial scarf and one rupee, to take his consentation for the wedding. Upon the agreement of the girl's maternal uncle, the Lama will fix the date of the marriage.
On the wedding day which takes place at noon, the groom and his entire family will leave for the girl's house with some money and other gifts that are handed over to the bride's maternal uncle. Upon reaching the destintion, the traditional Nyomchok ceremony will take place, and the bride's father arranges a feast for relatives and friends. This will seal the wedding between the couple.
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