Folk Culture of Buxa Hills
Amit Sharma,
State Aided College
Teacher,
Nani Bhattacharya Smarak
Mahavidyalaya,
Department of History,
West Bengal, India.
Abstract: The
folk culture of Buxa Hills, located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal,
is a unique blend of diverse ethnic groups, rich history, and extraordinary
natural biodiversity. In this region, Lepcha, Dukpa, Nepali, Bhutia, and
Tibetan communities have built a multi-layered cultural framework through
long-standing peaceful coexistence. The pillars of this folk culture are
traditional festivals, among which the Dukpa community's 'Losar' and the
Lepchas' 'Tukpa Heritage Festival' are major attractions for tourists. The
archaeologically and historically significant Buxa Fort reveals a distinct
aspect of this culture, where the influence of British-era prison life and the
heroic sagas of Indian freedom fighters' sacrifices remain intertwined.
Surrounded by dense forests and the Sinchula mountain range, the inhabitants
are accustomed to a nature-dependent lifestyle. While their livelihoods depend
on agriculture and animal husbandry, tourism forms a significant part of their
economy. Specifically, the Bhutanese-influenced attire and language of the
Dukpas, along with the dietary habits and religious diversity of the Nepalis,
have made this mountain culture more vibrant. Overall, the close fusion of
Tibetan and Bhutanese traditions with Indian culture has transformed Buxa Hills
into a unique center of North Bengal's folk culture.
Keywords: Buxa Hills, Folk Culture, Natural Diversity, Ethnic
Groups
Introduction
The folk culture
of Buxa Hills is primarily composed of a blend of Bhutanese, Tibetan, and local
Dooars cultures, including diverse ethnic groups such as Lepcha, Dukpa, Bhutia,
Nepali, and Bengali. An important festival of Buxa Hills is the Losar festival, which draws large
gatherings. During this festival, people of the Dukpa community are seen
performing traditional songs and dances. The language and diverse lifestyles of
the Dukpas are showcased through Losar.
Buxa Fort
is a notable archaeological site here. Its historical significance is immense,
reflecting British-era influences on Buxa Hills' culture. Furthermore, the fort
bears the memory of Indian freedom fighters, creating a beautiful fusion of
nature and history for tourists.
Geographical
Location of Buxa Hills
Buxa Hills (Buxa
National Park) is located in the Alipurduar district of West Bengal, India. It
is a vital part of the Dooars region of North Bengal. Geographically, it is
situated in the northeastern corner of Alipurduar district near the Bhutan
border at the foothills of the Sinchula Mountains. It is approximately 30 km
from Alipurduar city, with an elevation of 867 meters (2844 feet) above sea
level. It is bordered by the Indo-Bhutan border and Sinchula range to the
north, Assam state to the east, and National Highway 31 and Alipurduar city to
the south.
Folk Culture of
Buxa Hills
The folk culture
is manifested through natural diversity, the union of various ethnic groups,
traditional lifestyles, folk dance, folk songs, handicrafts, and dietary
habits.
1. Natural
Diversity of Buxa Hills
Spanning 760
square kilometers near the Bhutan border, Buxa National Park attracts attention
for its natural beauty. It is rich in biodiversity, featuring dense forests
(Sal, Teak, Gamar, Simul, Chikrasi), various plants (orchids, bamboo), and
diverse forest types (moist deciduous, sub-tropical, alpine grasslands). It is
home to wildlife such as tigers, elephants, deer, clouded leopards, black
bears, and bison.
2. Fusion of
Ethnic Groups
Buxa Fort served
as a prison for freedom fighters during the British era and later became a
shelter for Tibetan refugees, leading to the arrival of multiple cultures.
Being on the Bhutan border, it has created a rich synthesis with Indian
culture.
3. Lepcha
Community in Buxa Hills
The Lepchas are
a local indigenous community living mainly in Lepchakha village. Their unique
cultural highlight is the Tukpa
Heritage Festival, held annually in mid-November. This festival features
Lepcha folk dances and songs and is a major tourist attraction. The Lepchas are
nature-worshippers with Buddhist influences. Their livelihood is based on
agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourism. Their culture is enriched by
weaving, basketry, folk dances (e.g., Jo-Mal-Lok, Chu-Faat), folk
music (Sanga, Yangjey, flute), and oral folklore.
4. Dukpa
Community in Buxa Hills
The Dukpas are a
mountain community originally from Bhutan. They reside in areas like Lepchakha,
Adma, and Tasigaon. They farm rice, maize, cardamom, and millet, and raise
cattle, goats, pigs, and poultry. The Dukpa
Festival showcases their traditional attire, rituals, and music. Their
culture has strong Bhutanese influences; they speak the Dzongkha language and practice Buddhism. Their traditional clothing includes the Kira and Kamney;
women specifically wear the long Kira.
5. Nepali
Community in Buxa Hills
The Nepali
community constitutes a large part of the population in and around Buxa Hills.
They play a vital role in the local economy and culture. They follow Hinduism
and Buddhism and include various ethnic groups like Sherpa, Gurung, Limbu,
Magar, Rai, and Newar.
- Attire: Men wear Daura-Suruwal
(long shirt and trousers), and women wear Gunyo-Cholo (blouse and
skirt) or Haku-Patasi (sari and blouse). In winter, they wear
woolens like Bakhu.
- Diet: Their
staples include Dal-Bhat, Dhido, Momo, Thukpa, fish, and meat. Their
culture is a diverse mix of local mountain traditions fused with Tibetan,
Buddhist, and Bhutanese influences.
Conclusion
The folk culture
of Buxa Hills is a synthesis of Tibetan, Bhutanese, and Buddhist traditions
with the lifestyle of the Dukpa people. The lifestyles, diets, and clothing of
the various communities have enriched this culture. Buxa Fort serves as a
bridge between British historical influence and the legacy of Indian
revolutionaries. Centered around Rajabhatkhawa and Buxa Fort, the folk culture
of Buxa Hills continues to flourish.
References
- https://share.google/aimode/3dTha7VZvSn62ZpYr
- Alipurduar
- alipurduar.gov.in
- Bangodarshan
Information Desk (Feb 22, 2021)
- ‘Itihas Ebong Prakritir Joutho Sangshar Buxa Jatiya Uddane’, Banapathe
Buxa. Ashish Kumar Samanta
- Manojit
Das, “Prasanga Buxa Bandi Shibirekti Aitihashik Parjalochana,”, Uttar
Prasanga, May 2018 (Ed: Debabrata Chaki)