It’s not only meant ecologically, when Sikkim goes green. The whole region seems to love the color as a symbol for hope and growth: The houses in the new pedestrian area in Gangtok (the capital) gleam in light green. Sikkimese people paint their bridges and balconies in their favorite color and even the clothes seem to go with this trend. For example the waiters in the modern Baker’s Café wear green exclusively. Also the future of Sikkim’s business could be symbolized by the color. The unique biota attracts more and more tourists to the region. The green tourism forms the backbone of Sikkimese business.
But it would be to easy to flatten the smallest Indian state to this monochromy. The well-kept cultural heritage is dominated by another color: red. It’s the color of the different religion, that are celebrated peacefully side by side. The robe of the buddhistic monk or the Bindi one the forehead of a Hindi woman. In Sikkim red is the color of luck – so that for example most trucks are painted in this color or are decorated with a red svastika.

 

 

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