Published 12 November 2024
Rise to different ethnic identities.
Introduction
For more than 2000 years, an extensive area of the eastern Himalaya was identified as the home of the Kiratis. Historically, the entire Himalayan region was known as the Kimpurusha Desha or Kimpurusha Kingdom or in simple terms as Kiratdesh. According to the history of Nepal, Kiratis had inhabitated the Kathmandu Valley and established their own ruling dynasty for a long period of time.
Today, Kiratis are divided into different distinct groups – Rai, Limbu, Yakkha and Sunuwar.
The Kirat ethnic group:
1. Rai (Khambu) – One of the oldest and dominant tribes in Kirat groups. They mainly started animal farming and agricultural vegetation as their traditional occupation. Worshipping nature and ancestral spirits is a part of thier diety even today also. It is commonly believed that they resisted Gorkha invasions. Later we will talk about The Gorkhas. Hence, differentiated by linguistic groups like Bantawa, Chamling, Sampang, Dumi, Kulung, Thulung, Khaling, Puma, Koyu, Nachhiring, Tilung, Yamphu, Mewahang, Lohorung, Bahing, Athpare, Belhare, Chiling, Mugali, Phangduwali, Jerung, Wambule and Dewas, etc.
2. Limbu (Subba) – Native group knowns as Yakthung or Yakthum. Where males are called “Yakthumba” and females are called “Yakthumma”. Some ancient texts state that the term “Yakthum” is derived from Yaksha. In the Limbu language, it means “heroes of the hills”. Subba is a title given by the Shah Kings only to Limbu village chiefs. Moreover, The house is a symbolic representation of a goddess of the Limbu community called yuma. “Silam-Sakma” is the name of the symbol that identifies the Limbu or Yakthung tribal community.
3.Yakkha (Dewan) – The successor of Nepal’s prohistoric dynasty. A subsistence farmers Inhabiting the lower Arun valley in eastern Nepal. Unfortunately, modernization and influence from external factors have caused a rapid disappearance of the Yakkha language. There are 32 family names (Thar) in the Yakkhas. Each Thar also has a sub-group called the Sameychong. Marriages do not occur between families sharing the same Sameychong. As per the population census of Nepal 2001, there were 17,003 Yakkhas. A few thousand Yakkhas live in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, Sikkim and other parts of India.
4. Sunuwar (Koinch) – Tibeto-Burman ethnic group, Mostly pratices agriculture and cattle farming. Very rich in culture and traditions like every Kirat groups. Every traditional festival has its own objective like Shandar Dance in Baisakh Purnima, Gil puja and Meserani puja are considered important. Sunuwar New year is celebrated on the day of Basanta Panchami. As a community, they celebrate Meserani Puja twice a year, based on the Lunar Calendar.
" यदि आफूले चाहेको कुराको लागि लड्नु हुँदैन भने, आफूले गुमाएको कुराको लागि पनि कहिले नरुनुहोस्।"
Conclusion:
Hence, They identify with each other on the basis of perceived shared attributes that differentiate them from other groups. Each and every groups has their own specialty. But when it comes to the term Kirati each and every individual is same and connected by their own rich culture and traditions.