In a landmark move to celebrate cultural heritage, the Sikkim government has announced that all state government offices will observe Traditional Attire Day every Thursday. This initiative mandates employees across all departments to wear traditional clothing as part of their official work attire.
The circular issued by the Personnel Department underscores the importance of preserving and promoting Sikkim's diverse cultural identity through workplace practices. This weekly celebration aims to foster pride in traditional craftsmanship and ethnic diversity while creating a visually unified cultural expression across government institutions.
Implementation Across Departments
The directive applies comprehensively to all government establishments including:
- State secretariat and directorate offices
- District administration offices
- Sub-divisional and block-level offices
- All attached departments and autonomous bodies
This initiative represents one of the most significant cultural preservation efforts implemented through government machinery in recent times. By incorporating traditional clothing into the workweek, the government aims to make cultural celebration an integral part of professional life.
Cultural Significance and Impact
The weekly tradition allows employees to showcase various ethnic attires including:
- Traditional Lepcha, Bhutia, and Nepali dresses
- Indigenous accessories and jewelry
- Region-specific textile patterns and designs
This move is expected to boost local handicrafts and traditional weavers while creating greater awareness about Sikkim's cultural richness among both government employees and citizens visiting government offices.
The Thursday tradition follows similar cultural initiatives across India but stands out for its mandatory implementation across all government departments, setting a precedent for other states to follow in workplace cultural integration.
