New Delhi, 15 May (H.S.): Vice‑President C.P. Radhakrishnan will travel to Gangtok on May 16 (Saturday) to attend the celebrations marking Sikkim State Foundation Day. This will be his first visit to the state since assuming office as Vice‑President of India.

It is noteworthy that Sikkim Foundation Day is observed every year on May 16. The day commemorates the historic event when Sikkim became India’s 22nd state. It is not merely a symbol of a political transformation but also a celebration of Sikkim’s culture, heritage, and unity. After India’s independence, Sikkim remained an independent monarchy. In 1947, following India’s independence, Sikkim entered into a special treaty with India, under which it became a protectorate state. This arrangement continued until 1975.

Sikkim, India’s smallest state, is renowned for the number of its monasteries, with more than 200 situated across the state. The culture of Sikkim features a unique confluence of Hinduism and Buddhism, shaped by the traditions, beliefs, and customs of three distinct communities—the Lepcha, the Bhutia, and the Nepali—blending their respective heritages into a distinctive regional identity.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar