The Government of India has granted Geographical Indication (GI) registration to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments – Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit – which belong to the Lepcha community of Sikkim.

The Government of India has granted Geographical Indication (GI) registration to two traditional Lepcha musical instruments – Tungbuk and Pumtong Pulit – giving a major cultural boost to the Lepcha community of Sikkim.

The GI registration certificates were formally awarded during the first Tribal Business Conclave organized in New Delhi by the Ministries of Culture, Tribal Affairs, and Commerce & Industry.

Other GI-tagged products of Sikkim include Sikkim Large Cardamom and Dalle Khursani.

Tungbuk is a three-stringed instrument, while Pumtong Pulit is a bamboo flute. Both are integral parts of Lepcha folk music and hold deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Ugen Palzor Lepcha and Namgyal Lepcha, who had respectively submitted GI tag applications for Sikkim Lepcha Tungbuk and Sikkim Lepcha Pumtong Pulit, received the certificates during the event.

NABARD, Gangtok, provided extensive support in the GI application process. It took nearly two years to obtain the GI tag. The Lepcha community expressed gratitude to all those involved in obtaining the GI tag, especially NABARD, for its two years of cooperation in this effort to achieve national recognition.

The ancient Lepcha kingdom extended from the Himalayas in the north to Titaliya (now in Bangladesh) in the south, and from Gipmochi mountain, the tri-junction of Sikkim, Bhutan, and Tibet in the east, to the Arun River of Nepal in the west.

This vast ancient Lepcha kingdom was known at that time as “Nye Mayel Lyáng,” which literally means “the sacred, hidden, eternal land.” Being nature worshippers, the Lepchas are very fond of music and singing; hence, they possess various kinds of musical instruments.

From April 2024 to March 2025, 23 new GI tags were added, bringing the total to 658 – some examples are –

Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Virgin Coconut Oil, Karen Musli Rice, and Nicobari Hodi Boat.

Uttar Pradesh: Banarasi Tabla, Banarasi Bharwan Chili, Shehnai, Metal Casting Craft, Wall Paintings, Lal Peda, Thandai, Tirangi Barfi, Chirgaon Karonda, Bareilly Furniture, Zari Zardozi, and Terracotta.

GI is valid for 10 years and can be renewed. The registration of GIs is overseen by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The government aims to reach 10,000 GI tags by 2030.

By 2025, Uttar Pradesh has 77 products with the highest number of Geographical Indication (GI) tags, followed by Tamil Nadu.

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