Darjeeling Culture

When it comes to culture of Darjeeling, we should turn our concentration toward the history of the region once again. Darjeeling featuring a mixed demography also boasts of widely mixed cultural scenery. Darjeeling Culture is primarily dominated by different groups of people living there such as Nepalis, Bengalis, Tibetans, Bhutias and Lepchas etc and presents a cosmopolitan look for the town. The arts and other cultural forms are heavily inclined by locals living there. Darjeeling is also a hub for Nepali rock music. Traditional dances of Darjeeling include the Chutkay dance, Jhaure dance, Maruni dance and Tamang Selos, all of which have originated from Nepal. Other dance form in Darjeeling consists of the Tibetan Chaam performed with classy costumes and colorful masks during the eve of Losar, the Tibetan New Year.

Apart from the major Hindu religious festivals like Diwali, Christmas, Dussera, Holi, Ram Navami etc., they celebrates several local festivals. The Tibetan ethnic groups like the Lepchas, Bhutias, Gurungs, and Tamangs celebrate new year called Lochar in January/February, Maghe Sankranti, Chotrul Duchen, Buddha Jayanti, and Tendong Lho Rumfaat, to name a few, which provide the "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, is a ten day carnival held every year during winter that especially portrays the rich musical and cultural heritage of Darjeeling Hills as its central theme.