History of Dukpas and Their Present Situation in the Darjeeling Hills and the Buxaduar Region and their Social-Customs and Practices

Ugen Dukpa

Abstract: The DRUGPAS also called as Dukpas are one of the oldest Buddhist Tribal Community living in the hill areas of Darjeeling inhabiting majorly the hilly terrain of North Bengal as well as Bhutan and Sikkim. The Dukpa Tribe has been defined as a group of indigenous people having a common name, language and territory tied by kinship bonds, practicing endogamy, having distinct customs, rituals and beliefs etc.

Keywords: History, Darjeeling, Dukpa, Bhutan, territory, Tibet, Bhutias, Lamahatta, , Buxaduar, development, upliftment