Time : December - January
Duration : 10 days
Venue : Gangtok, Mangan, Pelling and Kalimpong.
The Archery of Sikkim
Archery is a favourite sport of the Lepchas and the Bhutias. They practice archery as a game of sports with traditional bows and arrows made out of bamboos. The sporting event usually takes place during winter at Gangtok, Mangan, Pelling and Kalimpong. Generally the contest of archery is among two teams, who try to hit targets and try to score maximum points.
Traditionally, archery in Sikkim was played after the harvests, a way for villagers to get together in the inactive farming season. In the recent few years, it has enjoyed a revival in Sikkim, an attempt to revive their cultural identity. All archers wear traditional dress, the kho, in an attempt to participate. Archers shoot to a small wooden target (3x1 ft), kept at a distance of 130 m from the shooter.
