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| Sikkim Almanac |
Every
Sikkimese has seen Sikkim Almanac hanging on the walls of every Official building
or in every house to get an idea about the official government sanctioned
holidays for a particular year. But, we have never paid any attention to
understand its link with the past of Sikkim. The Sikkim Almanac nowadays is
merely serving as an everyday planner of the Sikkimese people. But, distant
from being the official holiday marker the Sikkim Almanac has its profound bond
with the history of the erstwhile Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim.
The
Royal Government of Sikkim began to issue its Almanac, which lists the official
government sanctioned holidays for each year, in the mid 50’s of the last
century. The noble task was undertaken during the glorious reign of Maharaja
Sir Tashi Namgyal. The sole purpose of issuing such Government Calendar was to inform
the subjects of the Maharaja about the Government sanctioned holidays in the
kingdom of Sikkim, so that they could avoid themselves from reaching the
Capital during holidays for their Official works. The Government sanctioned
holidays in the calendar were highlighted with red colour which was easier
for every individual to get an idea of the existing holiday in a particular
month. The very same layout of Almanac is still prevalent in the Sikkim Almanac
issued by the Government of Sikkim.
The
Sikkim Almanac has some distinctive features as well. In conjunction with the
dates of Gregorian calendar in English are the dates of Tibetan Lunar Calendar
in Tibetan scripts. Presently, the heading carries emblem of Sikkim Government
but, during independent Sikkim it used to have a portrait of the reigning king
of the Kingdom. The fifties (1950’s) version of the Sikkim Almanac carried
pictures of Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal in full Royal ceremonial dress, while
the pictures of Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal were more casuals. The placing
of the King’s pictures on Sikkim Almanac was stopped after Sikkim’s integration
with the Indian Union. Apart from English and Tibetan languages the title of
the Almanac is also written in other Sikkimese languages like Lepcha, Nepali
and Limbu which is in vogue since its first issue.
Either
side of the Almanac is bordered by the Eight Lucky Signs known as Tashi Tagey
(Tak Gye) in Tibetan. These auspicious signs are symbolic with the life and
teachings of the enlightened Tathagatha. After Sikkim’s
integration with India, the Sikkim Almanac is printed and distributed by Home
Department, Government of Sikkim every year.
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