Culture and Customs
Entertainment
Gap year in Darjeeling, India During the major festival period of October/November many cultural events are held which delight locals and tourists alike with displays of traditional music and dancing celebrating the traditions of the various local communities. The dancers will often be dressed in elaborate costumes and bedecked with jewelry and make up in the colourful tradition of their particular origins. The Gorkhaland separationist political movement has in fact insisted that all the local inhabitants wear their traditional dress during the festival period and this adds colour and interest and enables ready distinguishing of origins.
The Darjeeling Carnival is a 10 day carnival held every year during the winter with the high quality portrayal of the rich musical and cultural heritage of Darjeeling Hills as its central theme.
There are cinemas in both Darjeeling and Kalimpong showing Bollywood and other movies.
Festivals & Culture
The three major religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity are well represented in the region and the major festivals celebrated therefore are Dussehra in October, Diwali in October/November, Christmas in December and Holi in March.
Dussehra is regarded as the biggest festival of the Nepali community which makes up the majority of the population of the region and is celebrated by both Hindus as well as non-Hindus. It commemorates the victory of the forces of Good over Evil and is considered an auspicious time to begin new ventures in life. It is marked by elaborate temporary shrines (pandals) containing life size figures of the goddess of power Durga, large colourful parades and feasting.
Diwali is the festival of lights and is characterized by garlands and fairy lights everywhere, fireworks and crackers each evening for three days, elaborate temporary shrines (pandals) set up in honour of the Goddess Lakshimi, troupes of girls and boys going round local houses carolling and again much feasting.
There is a diverse ethnic populace of the region, however, and these celebrate in addition several local festivals. The Lepchas and Bhutias celebrate New Year in January, the Nepalis in October/November while Tibetans celebrate it in February/March.
Food
A popular food in the Darjeeling/Kalimpong area is the momo, a dumpling containing pork, beef, chicken or vegetables usually steamed but sometimes also fried. Wai-Wai is a packaged snack consisting of pre cooked noodles which are eaten either directly from the packet dry or in soup form. Churpee, a kind of hard cheese made from cow or yak milk is sometimes chewed. A form of noodle called thukpa, served in soup form is also popular in Darjeeling. There are a large number of restaurants in both Kalimpong and Darjeeling which offer a wide variety of traditional Indian and Chinese cuisines as well as some that serve continental food to cater to the tourists. Tea is naturally the most popular beverage, procured from the famed Darjeeling tea gardens usually drunk with both milk and sugar. Strong beer and spirits are readily and cheaply available, brewed and distilled mainly in nearby Sikkim while two characteristically local drinks are Chang, a slightly sour beer made from millet, and Tongba, also made from millet but prepared and drunk in a distinctive bamboo container and through a bamboo straw.