The Phopo is a wooden cup used by the Bhutia tribe, an indigenous community mainly inhabiting Sikkim. The Bhutias, known for their rich cultural tradition, have a special relationship with nature, and this relationship is reflected in their beautiful handcrafted items such as the Phopo.
Exquisitely carved and finely detailed, this special wooden cup is entirely made of wood, a material easily available from the forests and altitude hills of the Bhutia region. Both the inner and outer surfaces of the cup are red, a color considered to have great cultural and spiritual meaning in several Himalayan communities. The red color has been applied for a decorative function, thus displaying the aesthetic traditions of the Bhutia tribe.
The cup has a round, slightly raised flat pedestal at the base to promote the stability that is also a unique structural feature that distinguishes it from other types of cups or vessels. The pedestal provides the support needed for the cup to stand perfectly while drinking or serving as decoration.
More than a functional object, the Phopo symbolizes culture. It is frequently used in festivals, rituals, and formal occasions, depicting the Bhutia people's affinity with nature and their ancestral craftsmanship. Both bear the evidence of the tribe's daily life and its deep-rooted traditions.