President Murmu honours Sikkimese Padmi Shri awardee Jordan Lepcha

President Droupadi Murmu honoured Sikkim’s Jordan Lepcha who was recently awarded the Padma Shri.

She accorded him a warm welcome at Rangpo. 

In recognition of his exceptional bamboo craftsmanship and dedication to preserving Lepcha cultural heritage, Jordan Lepcha from Sikkim has been awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by President Droupadi Murmu. 

This esteemed honor celebrates Jordan's tireless efforts to promote and preserve the traditional arts and crafts of the Lepcha community, inspiring a new generation to appreciate and cherish their rich cultural legacy.

Jordan Lepcha is a master craftsman who creates bamboo hats with stories of historical events and family values inscribed on them. The Lepcha tribe is indigenous to Sikkim and has a population of around 50,000 people. They have remained relatively isolated from the outside world for centuries. Sumok Thyaktuk. The traditional Lepcha hat, called Sumok Thyaktuk, is made from bamboo and cane and takes about a month to make. It has four layers, each with a different meaning.

Lepcha has been trying to preserve the dying craft of Sumok Thyaktuk by teaching it to over 150 youngsters from different parts of Sikkim.