Lepcha hats

By Azuk Tamsangmoo lepcha

' SUMOK THAKTUK saamX ÄXatXu' intrecately woven with variety of bamboos, kaffer laop arrowroot plant) (type maranta arunginacea stp ) coated with Mica plates from inside and has seven different stages in the process of making , basically there are three different patterns in the hat where each pattern depicts nature ,the base of the hats pattern is a reflection of a wild orchid found in the himalayan region with a local name SUMUK REEP osamX ir- ( Type , venustrum stp. ), the middle part is called EMIK iAim(( the eyes of wasp tiny mountain bees which produces medicinal honey ), the top part is SUNGRYONG SONG VsuVoà Vos (The spiders web which is a trade mark of the lepcha pattern in most hats )

In the ancient days the weavers used to weave the hat chanting mantras and prayers for the would be owner of the specific hat , these hats were woven for specific personalities and symbolised status and responsibility High priest (Mun /Bongthing)/ Chieftans/Generals of Army mainly wore these hats. During the reign of Chogyal the king of Sikkim made these hats as a part of the dress of the Royal Army of Sikkim .

As of now it is immedietely known among the Lepcha tribe that the person wearing this hat is a protector of the tradition ,culture, history and a knowledgeable person in lepcha language and literature ,It is common among the members of the tribe that ,when a person with a sumuk hat on his head meets another stranger with a sumuk hat on ,the wearers often measure each other the degree of knowledge on the Lepcha culture and their worthiness to wear the hat.

PAPRI THAKTUK pBair ÄXatXu' : All weather hat of the lepchas made out of bamboo, designed on the top part ,the spiders web, the trade mark of the lepcha pattern . The hat itself gives a perfect defination on a Lepcha attire , the combination of this papri hat along with the spikes of porcupine siT)Aacu Sathim Aachyu attached in the front part of the hat is believed to protect the lepchas from negative and hovering spirits, which also acts as a helmet against the evil spirits.

ANOK THAKTUK Aa!n ÄXatXu' : A history of its own , made out of velvet, cloth and jewellery Kont on the Middle top part of the hat , the central Knot has nine sub-knots which symbolises ten subcastes in the beginning of the lepcha tribe, the knots are nine in number because the person wearing it makes a counting of ten heads all together. The hat is commonly known as Lepcha hat and has a long Saga were the Natives wear it with pride .

SEYRAABOO THAKTUK serabU ÄXatXu' : A hunters hat , made out of different straws and intricately binded bamboo strips , the straws are rolled in such a manner that it cushions the skull and acts as an effective helmet, the sherabu hat is an important part of the instrument of a hunter.

SORING THYAKTUK OsVir_ ÄXatXu' : Sun hat made out of straws and bamboo with the lepcha trade mark used while working in the field