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The Rai are an ethnolinguistic group belonging to the
Kirat The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
family and primarily
Tibeto-Burman The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spea ...
linguistic ethnicity. They mainly reside in the eastern parts of
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
, the
Indian states India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions. History Pre-indepen ...
of
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
,
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
(predominantly
Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
and
Kalimpong Kalimpong (Hindi: कलिम्पोंग) is a town and the headquarters of an eponymous district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of . The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. The re ...
Hills) and in south western
Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainous ...
. The Rais are a set of groups, one of the cultivating tribes of Nepal. They inhabited the area between the
Dudh Koshi Dudh Koshi (दुधकोशी नदी, ''Milk-Koshi River'') is a river in eastern Nepal. It is the highest river in terms of elevation. Koshi river system The Kosi River, or Sapt Koshi, drains eastern up. It is known as Sapta Koshi because ...
and
Tamur River The Tamor River is a major river in eastern Nepal, which begins around Kanchenjunga. The Tamor and the Arun River, Tibet-Nepal, Arun join the Sun Kosi, Sun Koshi at Triveni, Nepal, Tribenighat to form the giant Koshi River, Saptakoshi which flows ...
in Nepal. They claim that their country alone is called ( Kiratdesh), and they call themselves Rai. In modern times, they have spread over
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
,
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
and
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
. Rai are also known as "Jimdar" and in some places as "Khambu." "Jim" means "land" because they cultivated "Jim" or land, the Rais return cultivation as their traditional occupation. H. H Risley treats the Rais and Jimdar the as synonymous with the Khambus, but most of the Rais nowadays do admit Khambu and Jimdar to be synonymous terms connoting the same ethnic group. Rais are one of the dominant tribes of the
Kirati The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
group; they are a fighting tribe of Nepal. They are popularly believed to have offered a stiff resistance to the invasion of the Gorkhas. Kiranti Rais are hill tribes who once possessed considerable power and territory, but were speedily reduced to submission by
Prithvi Narayan Shah Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
after his conquest of Nepal. Kirati rule in eastern hills of Nepal ended after the conquest of
Gorkha Kingdom Gorkha Kingdom ( ne, गोरखा राज्य) was a member of the Chaubisi rajya, a confederation of 24 states on the Indian subcontinent ruled by Khas people. In 1743 CE, the kingdom began a campaign of military expansion, annexing se ...
in 1772–1773.


Geographical distribution


Nepal

Numbering about 750,000, the Rai people mainly inhabit eastern part of Nepal. Linguists have identified up to 28 different
Rai languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kir ...
, most of them mutually unintelligible. According to Nepal's 2011 census, there are 620,004 Rai in Nepal which represents 2.3% of the country's total population. Rais are major ethnic group by number in the Districts of Khotang (36.6%), Bhojpur (32.0%), Ilam (23.8%),
Dhankuta Dhankuta ( ne, धनकुटा ) is a hill town and the headquarter of Koshi Zone located in Dhankuta District of Eastern Nepal. According to 2011 Nepal census, it has population of 26,440 inhabitants. History Until about 1963 Dhankuta Ba ...
(19.7%),
Solukhumbu Solukhumbu District ( ne, सोलुखुम्बु जिल्ला , Sherpa: , Wylie: shar khum bu dzong) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. As the name suggests, it consists of the subregions Solu and Khumbu. ...
(19.6%), Udayapur (17.3%),
Panchthar Panchthar district ( ne, पाँचथर जिल्ला) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern hilly region of Nepal. It is a Hill district of eastern Nepal. The district covers of area. The 2011 census counted 191,817 pop ...
(13.8%),
Sankhuwasabha Sankhuwasabha District ( ne, सङ्खुवासभा जिल्ला ) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district's area is 3,480 km2 with a population of 159,203 in 2001 and 158,742 in 2011. ...
(10.3%),
Okhaldhunga Okhaldhunga is the headquarters of the Okhaldhunga District in the Sagarmatha Zone of Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3761 living in 790 individual households. Background The name Okhaldhunga originates from " ...
(9.9%) and
Morang Morang District ( ne, मोरङ जिल्ला ) is located in Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal. It is an Outer Terai district. It borders with Bihar, India to the South, Jhapa to the East, Dhankuta and Panchthar to the North, and Sunsar ...
(5.0%). They also live in
Jhapa Jhapa ( ne, झापा जिल्ला; ) is a district of Province No. 1 in eastern Nepal named after a Rajbanshi word "Jhapa" meaning "to cover" (verb). The latest official data, the 2021 Nepal Census, puts the total population of the d ...
,
Sunsari , nickname = , native_name_lang = , image_skyline = , image_size = , image_alt = , image_caption = Night view of Dharan, Itahari & Tarahara :: Barahakshetra Temple: BPKIHS, Dharan : Dharan Clock Tower , image_map = Sunsari district lo ...
and
Makawanpur Makwanpur District( ne, मकवानपुर जिल्ला; , a part of Bagmati Province, earlier a part of Narayani Zone, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Hetauda as its district headquarter, as well as ...
districts.


India, Bhutan and other countries

Rais are predominates in the Indian State of
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
,
Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
,
Kalimpong Kalimpong (Hindi: कलिम्पोंग) is a town and the headquarters of an eponymous district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located at an average elevation of . The town is the headquarters of the Kalimpong district. The re ...
,
Kurseong Kurseong is a town and a municipality in Darjeeling district in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Kurseong subdivision. Located at an altitude of , Kurseong is from Darjeeling and has a pleasant climate throughout ...
,
Mirik Mirik is a small town and a Notified Area of Darjeeling district in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of the Mirik subdivision. The name ''Mirik'' comes from the Lepcha language, Lepcha words ''Mir-Yok'' meaning "place bur ...
and
Dooars The Dooars or Duars ( as, দুৱাৰ, duar, rkt, দুৱাৰ, duar, bn, দুয়ার, duyar) () are the alluvial floodplains in eastern-northeastern India that lie south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas and north of the ...
of
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
. Rai is the single largest ethnic community in
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
. Rai population is mostly found in south, west and east of Sikkim. with large number of Rais also living in
Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
and other northeastern states, the Kingdom of
Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainous ...
and some have recently migrated to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States and other countries.


History


Mythology of Rai People

Rais tradition relates that the first of the ancestral Kirati entered Nepal's eastern hills through the
Barahachhetra Barahachhetra (also Barahakshetra or Varahakshrata; ne, वराहक्षेत्र) is a Hindu and Kirat piligram site which remains between the confluence of Koka and Koshi rivers in Barahakshetra, Sunsari of Province No. 1, Nepal. ...
gorge of the, Kosi valley the natural gateway into the region through the
Mahabharat Range The Lower Himalayan Range ( ne, पर्वत शृङ्खला parbat shrinkhalā) – also called the Middle Himalayas or Lesser Himalayas or Himachal – is a major east–west mountain range with elevations 3,700 to 4,500 m (12,000 to ...
, which separates the hilly hinterland from the plains. According to the Mundum, oral history Kirati ancestors came out of the "
Khuwalung Khuwalung () is a rock in the Saptakoshi river of Nepal sacred to the Kirati people. The rock lies at the confluence of Dudh Koshi, Arun, and Tamor rivers, near the Belaka municipality of Udayapur district. It is considered as one of the holie ...
" Then followed the small river or the Saptakoshi. They journeyed through the Arun,
Dudh Koshi Dudh Koshi (दुधकोशी नदी, ''Milk-Koshi River'') is a river in eastern Nepal. It is the highest river in terms of elevation. Koshi river system The Kosi River, or Sapt Koshi, drains eastern up. It is known as Sapta Koshi because ...
,
Sun Koshi The Sunkoshi, also spelt Sunkosi, is a river of Nepal that is part of the Koshi or Saptkoshi River system in Nepal. Sunkoshi has two source streams, one that arises within Nepal in Choukati, and the other more significant stream that flows in fr ...
, Tama Koshi and finally settled down in the
Bhote Koshi Bhote Koshi in Nepal and Poiqu in Tibet, both names roughly mean "Tibetan river," is the name given to the upper course (main tributary) of the Sun Kosi river. It is part of the Koshi River system in Nepal.Shrestha, A. B., Eriksson, M., Mool, ...
valley. According to the myths of Kirati-Rai People "Tayama" (elder sister) "Khiyama" (younger sister) and "Raichhakule"( Tayama and Khimaya's younger brother) are supposed to be the primeval ancestors of the Kirati-Rai's Civilization. The sisters are believed to have lived in " Tuwachung" whereas the brother in the cave of Halesi . Tayama and Khiyama were skillful in weaving the looms. They are regarded as the pioneers of textile. Tayama is recognized by the names like;Khew,Toyama,Toma,Tayama,Tangwama,Jauma,Jaumo,Dawa,Kakcha, and accordingly Khiyama is also called by Khema,Khiwama,Khliuma,Khlemo,Khewa,Khauma,Los in distinct
Kiranti languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kira ...
. Raichhakule (younger brother of Tayama and Khimaya's) also known as Hetchhakuppa,Hetchhakuwa,Khokchilipa,Khakchhilip etc. he is considered to be the beginner of the agricultural era in the cultural history of Kirati- Rai People. Salpa Pokhari is believed the origin of Kirati(Rais)ancestors. Salpa Pokhori is the centre of cultural believe for Kirati Rais and is related to the myth of "Salpa" and "Ribrima"(Salpa King and Queen). so Kirati-Rais believed to be born from these ancestors,Salpa and Ribrima. Salpa Pokhori is very significant and popular among Kirati Rais from cultural and religious view according to the Kirati Rai's myth, this place is the origin of the Kirati-Rai people. The Sillichung Mountain known as the prime tribute is supposed to be the origin of "Mundum" according to the Kirati myth.


Kirat Dynasty in Kathmandu Valley

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
enters into real historical era with the conquest of Kathmandu Valley by the Kiratis. The Kiratis are said to have been the aborigines inhabiting Eastern Nepal and having their own administrative set-up. Under the able leadership of their chieftain "Yalung" or
Yalambar Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kathman ...
the Kiratis defeated Bhuwan Singh; the last king in the Ahir Dynasty and brought the Kathmandu valley under their sway. From various sources mentioning Long period altogether 29 to 32 Kirati kings who had ruled over Nepal 1225 years from 800 BCE to 300 AD. Gopal genealogy mentions 32 Kirati Kings to have ruled over Nepal different genealogies have found to be stating different names of last Kirati King. The Lichhavi monarchical dynasty was established in Nepal by defeating last Kirati King 'Khigu', according to Gopal genealogy, 'Galiz' according to language-genealogy and ‘Gasti’, according to Wright genealogy.
Chyasal Chyasal (Nepal Bhasa:च्यास:) is an ancient town in the District of Lalitpur in Bagmati Zone in Nepal and a section of the city of Lalitpur. Also known as Yala in Nepal Bhasa. The 800 Kiratis are said to been slained in this Dabu by ...
is the place of final battlefield for Kiratis and Lichhavis. About 250 A.D. Kirati rule end in Kathmandu Valley and Kiratis moved towards east. Various ancient historical,archeological sites related to history of Kiratis and Kirati period in Kathmandu Valley like
Chyasal Chyasal (Nepal Bhasa:च्यास:) is an ancient town in the District of Lalitpur in Bagmati Zone in Nepal and a section of the city of Lalitpur. Also known as Yala in Nepal Bhasa. The 800 Kiratis are said to been slained in this Dabu by ...
, Patan Durbar,
Patuk Don Patuk Don or Patuk Deon (Nep; पटुक दोँ) is a mound that is believed to be the ruin of Kirat King Patuk's palace at Patan, Nepal Lalitpur Metropolitan City, historically Patan ( sa, पाटन ''Pāṭana'', Nepal bhasa : '' Yel ...
,
Gokarna Gokarna may refer to: Places * Gokarna, Karnataka, a town in Karnataka, India * Gokarna, West Bengal, a village in West Bengal, India * Gokarnamatam, a village in Andhra Pradesh, India * Trincomalee, a city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka also known ...
,
Thankot Thankot is a village and former Village Development Committee that is now part of Chandragiri Municipality in Kathmandu District in Province No. 3 of central Nepal. It lies in the lap of Chandragiri Hill Chandragiri ( kn, ಚಂದ್ರಗ ...
, Birupakshya, Lalitpur,
Akash Bhairav Akash Bhairav () or Aaju () is one of the different forms of Bhairava. The temple of Akash Bhairav is supposed to have been a palace of the first king of Nepal, Kiranti King Yalambar around 3100–3500 years back. The surrounding of Akash Bhair ...
etc.


Kirat Kingdom in the east

According to historians the Lichhavis got victory only over Kathmandu. in other parts of the eastern country Kirati rule is still maintained. After the defeated Kiratis by Lichhavis in Kathmandu valley the Kiratis moved gradually east wards ruling in the small territories. In the process of expansion Kiratis extended from Banepa, Dulikhel, Sindupalchok, Darawardanda, Dolakha,
Charikot Bhimeshwar, (formerly ''Charikot''), is a municipality in north-eastern Nepal and the headquarters of Dolakha District in Bagmati Province that was established in 1997 by merging the former Village development committees Charikot, Dolakha Town, ...
to Kiratichap. Kiratis built a fort in Kiratichap and started to rule again still many evidences of Kiratis ancient ruins graveyard can be found in Dolakha,Sindupalchok region like "Kirat Thursa" in
Jiri Jiri ( ne, जिरी) is a municipality in Dolakha District in the Bagmati Province of central Nepal. At the time of the 2011 Nepal census it had a population of 13,638 people.. Jiri, which lies about 190 kilometers from Kathmandu, is the m ...
"Kiratichap" in Dolakha. according to various folklore and oral history Lichhavi attacked again Kiratis in Dolakha and chased away. In Pursuit of the fertile land some kiratis followed Sunkoshi river they become Sunuwar. others who followed the Tamakoshi,
Dudhkoshi Mapya Dudhkoshi ( ne, माप्य दुधकोशी गाउँपालिका) is a rural municipality (gaunpalika) out of seven rural municipality located in Solukhumbu District of Province No. 1 of Nepal. There are a total of 8 mun ...
, Arun and Tamur rivers they become today's Rai, Yakkha, Sunuwar and Limbu . After settling down in different areas Kiratis made their appropriate 'Kipat,' 'the area,' and again in the mountain region eastern hills Kiratis ruled over for centuries. in course of time due to the geo-political division three Kirati states were created as Wallo Kirat(Near Kirat), Majh Kirat (Middle Kirat) and Pallo Kirat or (Far east Kirat).


Gorkhali conquest in Kirat country

Around 1743 AD King
Prithvi Narayan Shah Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
of
Gorkha The Gurkhas or Gorkhas (), with endonym Gorkhali ), are soldiers native to the Indian Subcontinent, chiefly residing within Nepal and some parts of Northeast India. The Gurkha units are composed of Nepalis and Indian Gorkhas and are recruit ...
started to
Unification of Nepal The Unification of Nepal, also known as Expansion of Gorkha Kingdom, officially began in 1743 AD (1799 BS) after King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha launched an aggressive annexation campaign seeking to broaden his own kingdom's border. After ...
campaign, conquering many small states Gorkhalis also started to attacked in the Kirat Region. according to historians, before the unification of Nepal by Prithvivinaryan Shah from Banepa to
Trishuli River The Trishuli River ( ne, त्रिशूली नदी) is one of the major tributaries of the Narayani River basin in central Nepal. It originates in Tibet as a stream and enters Nepal at Gyirong Town. Etymology The Trishuli is named after ...
and around
Teesta River Teesta River is a long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal through Rangpur, and enters the Bay of Bengal. It drains an area of . In India, it flows through ...
known as Kiratdesh the territory of Kiratis. Looking at the evidence of the time when Prithvinarayan Shah expanded the Gorkha kingdom, Dolakha,
Ramechhap Ramechhap Municipality is a municipality in Ramechhap District in Bagmati Province of Nepal. It was established on 2 December 2014 by merging the former village development committees Old-Ramechhap, Okhreni and Sukajor. At the time of the 2011 Ne ...
and Sindhuli fall in Wallo Kirat and the part from Sunkoshi to upper Arun river falls in Manjh Kirat . The area from Upper Arun Arun river to East
Teesta River Teesta River is a long river that rises in the Pauhunri Mountain of eastern Himalayas, flows through the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal through Rangpur, and enters the Bay of Bengal. It drains an area of . In India, it flows through ...
falls within Pallo Kirat . when Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded the
Dhulikhel Dhulikhel is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel ...
border area of (Wallo Kirat) in 1768 AD, that time the Kirat King of
Dhulikhel Dhulikhel is a municipality in Kavrepalanchok District of Nepal. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko Highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko Highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel ...
Chaukhat Mahindra Sing Rai and his brother Namsing Rai strongly resisted and fought valiantly with Prithivinarayan shah's huge army for a very long time. King
Prithvi Narayan Shah Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
had deployed ''
Sardar Sardar, also spelled as Sardaar/Sirdar ( fa, سردار, , 'commander', literally 'headmaster'), is a title of royalty and nobility that was originally used to denote princes, noblemen, chiefs, kings and other aristocrats. It has also been u ...
''
Ram Krishna Kunwar Ram Krishna Kunwar or Ramakrishna Kunwar ( ne, रामकृष्ण कुँवर; IAST: ''Rāmakr̥ṣṇa kum̐vara'') was military commander (Sardar) of Gorkha Kingdom during the Unification of Nepal at the reign of King Prithvi Narayan ...
to the invasion of
Kirant The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
regional areas comprising; Pallo Kirant, Wallo Kirant and Majh Kirant. There are many kings and chiftens and forts under Wallo Kirat and Majh Kirat area. It is mentioned in the book "Mechi to Mahakali" Part-1 eight thums forts of (Wallo Kirat)
Okhaldhunga Okhaldhunga is the headquarters of the Okhaldhunga District in the Sagarmatha Zone of Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3761 living in 790 individual households. Background The name Okhaldhunga originates from " ...
, namely Bungnam,
Taluwa Taluwa is a village development committee in Okhaldhunga District in the Sagarmatha Zone of mid-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of S ...
,
Chyanam Chyanam is a village development committee in Okhaldhunga District in the Sagarmatha Zone of mid-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau o ...
,
Solu A solu is a traditional boat of the Toba Batak people of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The solu is a dugout canoe, with boards added on the side bound with iron tacks. They are of various size, the largest, for 50 rowers, are about 18 meters in length ...
,
Tilpung Tilpung is a village development committee in Ramechhap District in the Janakpur Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau of ...
, Chisankhu, Chuplu and Chauras. other forts in Majh Kirat are Hatuwa, Chawdandi,
Mukali Mukli is Headquarter of Thulung Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality, Ward No. 6 formerly a Village development committee (Nepal), Village Development Committee in Solukhumbu District in the Sagarmatha Zone of north-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 19 ...
, Halesi, Khotehang, Kulum, Majhuwa, Khamtel, Pamakham, Rawa and Kepilas one by one, the Gorkhalis conquered all these forts in Wallo and Majh Kirat. At the time when Prithivi Narayan Shah conquered the Kirat region. In this historical period, Waling Hang was the king in Hatuwā Gaḍhi(Majh Kirat) in across the
Arun River The River Arun () is a river in the English county of West Sussex. At long, it is the longest river entirely in Sussex and one of the longest starting in Sussex after the River Medway, River Wey and River Mole. From the series of small stream ...
. The kings of Hatuwa extended their rule over part of
Khalsa Khalsa ( pa, ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ, , ) refers to both a community that considers Sikhism as its faith,Kha ...
. The Khalsa territory present day
Ankhisalla Ankhisalla is a village development committee in the Shahidbhumi Rural Municipality of Dhankuta District in the Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 5220 people living in 923 individual h ...
,
Dhankuta District Dhankuta District ( ne, धनकुटा जिल्ला) () is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 163,412. Dhankuta is the district headquarters of Dhan ...
ruled by King
Budhahang Budhahang (Nepali:बुढाहाङ) was a Kirat Rai king of Khalsa territory of Eastern Nepal. His palace was located in the region currently known as Ankhisalla and Chintang. It is said that the Khalsa area of Dhankuta District included ...
. Budhahang disappeared when
Prithivi Narayan Shah Maharajadhiraj Prithvi Narayan Shah (1723–1775) ( ne, श्री ५ बडामहाराजाधिराज पृथ्वीनारायण शाह देव) was the last ruler of the Gorkha Kingdom and first monarch of the ...
attacked him. During the war with the Shah king, he could revive all the dead Kirati warriors who were killed using his devine powers. On 29 August 1772, Ram Krishna Kanwar crossed
Dudhkoshi Mapya Dudhkoshi ( ne, माप्य दुधकोशी गाउँपालिका) is a rural municipality (gaunpalika) out of seven rural municipality located in Solukhumbu District of Province No. 1 of Nepal. There are a total of 8 mun ...
river enter
Chaudandi Chaudandi is a village development committee in Udayapur District in the Sagarmatha Zone of south-eastern Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census The 1991 Nepal census was a widespread national census conducted by the Nepal Central Bureau ...
to invade of Kirant and Saptari region with fellow commander
Abhiman Singh Basnyat Abhiman Singh Basnet/Basnyat ( ne, अभिमान सिंह बस्न्यात) was first Commander-in-Chief of Unified Nepal."Regmi Research Series" Author:Mahesh Chandra Regmi Abhiman Singh became the first Commander in Chief of a U ...
. Khambu Kirati Youths who were skilled archers, stemmed the advance of the Gorkhali troops at every step with their arrows. they inflicted heavy losses on the Gorkhalis, so that Prithivinarayan Shah had to send reinforcement sounder the commend of Subedar Shiva Narayan Khatri. Chatim Rai of Rawa Khola and Atal Rai of Pamakham were two principal Khambus Kirati ultimately proved ineffective before, the bows and arrows of the Gorkhalis. within a period of 5 months the Gorkhalis occupied Rawa, Halesi, Majuwa,Kulum and Dingla thus conquering the hole of Majh Kirat.


Culture

Rai Community has its own traditional culture and rituals. all Rai people practice same rituals of life from birth to death. but there are some variation in rites and rituals in Rai communities living in different places.


Marriage system

Marriage in Rai group is not merely a biological and psychological relation between the couple, but essentially considered a social phenomenon that must be approved by the society. Unless the society gives recognition to the couples, they find their marital relation insecure. After the marriage, the woman's clan is not changed, though she stays with her husband; but her children follow the clan of her husband. Both the practices of monogamy and polygamy are found among Rais; but the system of polygamy is gradually declinging. Some important types of marriage found among Rais are : a) Chori Biha (Theft Marriage): It is called Chori Biha by Rais. If a man takes a woman away from her home secretly without informing her parents, it is called ‘theft marriage’. This sort of marriage is a bit different from 'love marriage', in that the man and woman may not have developed personal relationship for a long time, which is found in love marriage. The man may like the woman all of a sudden, which the woman may not be noticing. All of a sudden, the man expresses his wish to marry her when he meets her on some occasion or gathering – like in the fairs and marketplace. In such a case, if some of her relatives or close friends encourage her to elope with the man, she may be convinced and becomes ready to go with him. Nowadays theft marriage is gradually being replaced by 'love marriage', in which the concerned boy and girl spend some time to know each other without the influence or intervention of anybody; then they can either decide to marry, just maintain their friendship or discontinue it, depending on how far the two parties like or dislike each other. b) Zari Biha (Marriage by paying penalty): Taking the wife of another man away in her consent for the purpose of marriage is called Zari Biha in Rai community. In such a case, a certain amount of cash is paid as a penalty by the woman's new husband to the earlier one. c) Senzi Zari Biha (Widow marriage): In Rai community, there is not any social prohibition for the widows to marry. A widow or widower is allowed to get married, though it is not a compulsion. In this marriage, a certain penalty is paid to the widow's father-in-law or the senior family member, as a compensation for losing a member of the family. d) Magi Biha (Arranged Marriage): Arrange marriage is performed with the mutual understanding and arrangements of both the families – the boy's side and the girl's side. It is called Magi Biha. In this marriage, the consent of the girl, the forthcoming bride, is a must.


Death ritual

In Rai community death is distinguished between the natural death and unnatural death in their rites of the passage as well. In the case of natural death, the body is either buried or cremated, upon the wish of the dead person. But the body must be buried in the case of unnatural death. There are many formalities in the death ritual if it is the natural death; but such formalities are less in the case of unnatural death, since it is believed that such a death turns the person into evil. If a baby dies before the growth of his/her tooth, the funeral rite observed is very simply. Such a death is considered a bad omen and categorized under unnatural death. The pollution and purification rituals are completed on the same day in such cases If a pregnant woman dies, her lower abdomen is bisected with a bamboo knife and the child is removed from her body. The mother and the child are buried at different burial sites according to the ritual of unnatural death. The pollution and purification ritual is completed on the same day. In the case of natural death, complete funeral rite is observed; and pollution and purification rituals are strictly followed. among Rai community a salt eating and oil drinking ceremony is performed three days after the death. On the ninth and tenth days, a Shaman performs a merit making ceremony for the deceased. This ritual is done to put the deceased soul to a rest; otherwise, it is believed that the deceased person's spirit will bring harm to the family.


Family and kinship

Rais have the practice of living in both the nuclear and joint families. In the nuclear family, there are two generations of people, whereas a joint family has three or more generations living together by sharing the same house and kitchen. Normally the son does not get separated immediately after his marriage. But after the marriage of his younger brother, he may wish to live separately. At the time of separation, the parental property is divided equally between the parents and sons. Mainly three forms of kinship are found among Rais: i) kinship by blood; e.g. brother and sister, ii) kinship by marriage; e.g. father-in-law, sister-in-law, etc., iii) kinship by social relation; e.g. Miteri (friendship bond established after a special ritual) relation. Kinship behaviour varies according to the status of the kin. Some relatives are more respectable than others, while some are in 'joking relation'. For instance, father, mother, uncle and aunt are respectable, but solti-soltinee, sali-bhena, are all in joking relation. In Rai community, son-in-law and daughter-in-law are treated equally as the son or daughter of the family.


Gender issues and decision-making procedure

Men and women having equal status in the family and community, there is almost no gender discrimination in Rai society. Although man is usually the head of the family, woman's role is equally important in planning and decision making on domestic matters. The husband decides almost nothing in absence of his wife. They generally discuss to plan the daily activities collectively in the family after dinner; and decision is made thereupon. After a year of the death of her husband, a widow can wear her casual dresses. There is no restriction for the widow or widower regarding their clothing. They also have the freedom for remarriage; but whether to marry or not depends entirely on the widow's or widower's wish. An unmarried adult woman possesses very strong role in the family. She is heard by all. Male and female members of family share their labour in all sorts of activities. However, a few cases are exceptions; e.g. cooking meals, which is mostly considered the responsibility of women. But when women are very busy, men take the responsibility of cooking as well. Similarly, though ploughing the field is generally considered the work of men, unmarried girls are also found involved in it to support men in their work.


Attire and ornaments


Women

Rai women used to weave homespun cloth from the
khadi Khadi (, ), derived from khaddar, is a hand-spun and woven natural fibre cloth promoted by Mahatma Gandhi as ''swadeshi'' (self-sufficiency) for the freedom struggle of the Indian subcontinent, and the term is used throughout India, Pakistan ...
,
cotton Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...
,
wool Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. As ...
and allo nettle plant. Rai women's garments are: Accessories: Women weave their own clothes on a , a wooden weaving machine, from cotton, wool and fibres made from the bark of stinging nettle (sisnu, ganam). *Sirful, शिरफुल *Dhungri-Bulaki, ढुंग्री-बुलाकी *Chepteysun, चेप्टेसुन *Chandrahaar, चन्द्रहार *Naugedi, नौगेढी़ *Renji Hari, रेजी/पैसाको हारी *Kalli,चाँदीको कल्ली *Balla, चाँदीको बाला,ठेका चुरा *Godawari, गोदावरी *Tariwoon, तारीवान् *Puwalo Mala, पुवालो माला *Jantar, जन्तर *Hansuli, हसुली *Dhajura-Pechuri, धजुरा-पेचुरी


Men

Rai men wear Wachinari Mala (
Dzi bead Dzi bead (Tib. གཟི།; pronounced "zee"; alternative spelling: ''gzi'') is a type of stone bead of uncertain origin worn as part of a necklace and sometimes as a bracelet. In several Central Asian cultures, including that of Tibet, the bead ...
), Potlung (Puwalo Mala) garland, and animal tooth necklaces. Male dress comprises headgear (feta; pagari; sayabung); Betebung shirt (dawm; lockchham); pant (suruwal; langsup); sleeveless coat made of stinging nettle plant fiber (chhakchha; fenga); waistband (narimokty); (patuki, chakchhinma), a large knife (
khukuri The kukri () or khukuri ( ne, खुकुरी, ) is a type of machete with a distinct recurve in its blade. It serves multiple purposes as a melee weapon and also as a regular cutting tool throughout most of South Asia. The ''kukri'', ''khu ...
, dabhay).


Religion

Rais have been following Kirat religion since the ancient times. Kirat religion is based on animistic nature and ancestor worship. Rais do not believe in heaven or hell. There is no religious hierarchy. Kirati-Rais engages Nakchong,Mangpa,Bijuwa, Nakso their tribal shamans in their religious rites. During the course of their recent history the Rais has increasingly borrowed elements from the major religions they have had contact with from Lamaist Buddhism or another cases Nepalese Hinduism without however renouncing their own tribal traditions.


Suptulung: Places of sacred worship

Teen Chula or Chula Dhunga "The three hearth made stones" called Dayahulung or Suptulung is the central part all the rituals or rites of Rais practised from birth to death are done in this Teen Chula 'Suptulung' The major deity of all Rais is 'Teen chula(Suptulung) The three hearthmade stoned oven' of the house. "The Term Lu or Lung refers to the stone and thus the suffix like lu or lung is found in most of the names of the oven in house eg; Taplelung, Suptulung, Mayalung, Ghewalung etc. Almost every thing from the right beginning of birth 'cradle to the tomb' is performed on the sacred teen chula without Teen Chula no rituals can be done.in Rai culture Teen Chula is the gate-way to enter in the real and practical day to day life. There is (Suptulung)'Teen Chula'in every house of Rais. It is buried on one side of the inner corner of the house. It said that "Dash Rai Dash Bhasa Ek Chula" "There is Same Teen Chula of all ten diversified Rais" it is believed that in the beginning there is only Ten 'Thars' of Rais but later Rais are divide into many 'thars' sub-group Teen Chula(Suptulung) is the Tribal identity of Rais and its a symbol of unity of different diviersified Kirati-Rais in one ethnic family. Teen Chula(Suptulung)also known as Samkhalung in bantawa Rai dialect The word "Samkha" means ancestors and "Lung" means stones. Samkhalung the three main stones, # Papalung: symbolizing male ancestors, # Mamalung: symbolizing female ancestors, and # Ramilung: symbolizing societal spiritual energies. The Teen Chula are considered by the Rais to be their most important shrines Teen Chula is sacred place after death where the departed souls ancestors of the Rais live in this place. Teen Chula philosophy (three knowledge perspectives) as the distinctive original identity of Rais.


Folk gods and goddesses

Kirati-Rais are basically animist they worship various
Household deity A household deity is a deity or spirit that protects the home, looking after the entire household or certain key members. It has been a common belief in paganism as well as in folklore across many parts of the world. Household deities fit int ...
and
Nature deities Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are p ...
. Kirati-Rais worship as ancestral god and goddess to Sumnima and Paruhang .Sumnima also known as 'Hengkhamma' the Mother Earth and Paruhang also known as 'Ninamma' Father the Sky god. The Sumnima is the supreme female God, wife of the Paruhang She represents the earth and ancestral mother. Paruhang is the supreme male God, husband of the Sumnima, lords of flowers. Sumnima-Paruhang are the deities of creator, preserver and sustainer god and goddess of the Rais. Hence it is not appropriate to equate these venerated god and goddess with the Shiva(a destroyer god of Hinduism) and Parvati(concert of Shiva),as it is often equated in Rais literature these days this is simply Hinduisation of the lesser-known Rais believe System.


Rai shamanism

Rai shamanism comprises a plurality of shamanic traditions, varied but closely related, like the Rai groups themselves. The Rai in East
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
consist of numerous subtribes, and even though they speak different languages and have their own distinct traditions, they all share a common linguistic and cultural heritage. Together with Limbu (the language of a related group residing farther to the east, also in
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
and
Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
), the Kirati-Rai languages belong to the
Kiranti The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
family, which is a subgroup of
Tibeto-Burman The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non- Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people spea ...
. Culturally the Rai have been influenced by both Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism, but these influences have only marginally affected their ancestral traditions, in which shamanic features still figure prominently.


The Mundum

The "mundum" is the oral tradition among the Rais and it is also a long-standing, and ancient, though not unchanging, ritual practice. Mundum is also addressed as "Ridum" "Muddum" or "Pelam". Iiterally, "Muna" means "Man" and "dum" means talk" which can be said speaking of man or oral talking as a hole the mundum is an oral tradition. so, it may differ in place to place. The term mundum is generally pronounced as
mundhum The Mundhum (also known as ''Peylan'') is the ancient religious scripture and folk literature of the Limbu people. It is an ancient, indigenous religion of Nepal. Mundhum means "the power of great strength" in the Limbu language. The Mundhum cover ...
by Nepali speakers. Many researchers have documented the term mundhum in their research. The /dh/ sound in mundhum is not found in many Kirati languages. If it is found in other Kirati languages, it often is a loan sound. The term
mundhum The Mundhum (also known as ''Peylan'') is the ancient religious scripture and folk literature of the Limbu people. It is an ancient, indigenous religion of Nepal. Mundhum means "the power of great strength" in the Limbu language. The Mundhum cover ...
thus might be of Nepali influence. So, the native term is "mundum”. In this case, the term mundum changes into the mundhum because the alveolar is changed into the dental aspirated /dh/ because it might be the influence of the Nepali language. Although, the concept is the same, the term mundum has different variants among different subgroups of Rai. Gaenszle (2002: 40–42), who has done pioneering work in the field of Kirati ritual, has extensively studied about it and collected different terms, which are as follows: * Mundum: Chintang,
Bantawa The Bantawa Language (also referred to as An Yüng, Bantaba, Bantawa Dum, Bantawa Yong, Bantawa Yüng, Bontawa, Kirawa Yüng), is a Kirati languages spoken in the eastern Himalayan hills of eastern Nepal by Kirati Bantawa ethnic groups. They us ...
, Belhare * Muddum/Mudum: Mewahang,
Bantawa The Bantawa Language (also referred to as An Yüng, Bantaba, Bantawa Dum, Bantawa Yong, Bantawa Yüng, Bontawa, Kirawa Yüng), is a Kirati languages spoken in the eastern Himalayan hills of eastern Nepal by Kirati Bantawa ethnic groups. They us ...
* Mindum/Pe-lam: Yamphu * Ridum: Kulung * Dum : Chamling * Pe-lam: Lohorung


Tribes and clans

Rais have distinct cultural tradition. The community is divided into different subtribes called "Thar" all have their own distinctive language or dialect this division of Rais into various subtribes allows for the minor alterations in the ritualistic practices while the essence of the traditions remains homogeneous largely. within the "Thar" there are clan division called "Pacha". clans are exogamous. There is further classification within the Pacha known as "Samet". Samet traces the relationship of a person to his/her ancestor. Pacha and Samet is main ritual identity of Rais, which is compulsory needed in every ritual performance.


Sub-groups or linguistic groups of Rais


(Pacha): Clans of different Rai sub-groups

* Athpahariya Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Bantawa Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Bahing/Bayung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Chamling Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Chhiling/Chhulng Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Chhintang Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Dumi Rai (Pacha)); Clans: ** * Dungmali Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Dewas Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Jero/Jerung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Kulung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Khaling Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Koyee or Koyu Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Lohorung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Mewahang Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Nachhiring Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Puma Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Phangduwali Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Sampang Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Sotang Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Thulung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Tilung Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Wambule Rai (Pacha) Clans: ** * Yamphu Rai (Pacha) Clans: **


Languages

The
Rai languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kir ...
are members of the
Sino-Tibetan Sino-Tibetan, also cited as Trans-Himalayan in a few sources, is a family of more than 400 languages, second only to Indo-European in number of native speakers. The vast majority of these are the 1.3 billion native speakers of Chinese languages. ...
language family. They belong to the Kiranti group of the
Tibeto-Burman languages The Tibeto-Burman languages are the non-Sinitic members of the Sino-Tibetan language family, over 400 of which are spoken throughout the Southeast Asian Massif ("Zomia") as well as parts of East Asia and South Asia. Around 60 million people speak ...
branch of the Sino-Tibetan family. In the
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
National Census of 2011, roughly 800,000 respondents declared a
Kiranti languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kira ...
as their "mother tongue". The number of speakers is probably less than this. The Census of India (2001) reported 50,000 speakers of Limbu and Rai in India (most in
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
)
Linguistic Survey of India The Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) is a comprehensive survey of the languages of British India, describing 364 languages and dialects. The Survey was first proposed by George Abraham Grierson, a member of the Indian Civil Service and a linguist w ...
n.d.).


Festivals


Sakela

Sakela Sakela () is one of the main festival of Kirat Rai people, an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling regions of India. Sakela is celebrated twice a year and is distinguished by two names ''Ubhauli'' and ''U ...
is the main Festival of Kirati Rais. The Rai people call it by different names like Sakenwa, Sakela, Tosh or Toshi, Bhume, Sakel, Wass, Segro, Sakewa, Dhuulu, Phagulak, Gelang, Gayapuja among different linguistic groups. This festival is celebrated twice in a year as
ubhauli Ubhauli (उभौली) is festival of the Kirat communities of Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu and Yakkha of Nepal , India and around the world by Kirati people celebrated every year marking the migration phase upwards towards the hilly regions when ...
in full moon day of the
Baisakh Vaisakha; hi, बैसाख, Baisākh; pa, ਵਿਸਾਖ/وساکھ , te, వైశాఖ, kn, ವೈಶಾಖ, Vaiśākha; ml, വൈശാഖം, Vaiśākham; mr, वैशाख, Vaiśākh; ta, வைகாசி, Vaikāci; ne, ...
and
udhauli Udhauli (उधौली) is a festival of the Kirat communities of Kirati people specially celebrated by Sunuwar, Limbu, Yakkha, Khambu Rai etc. of Nepal India and around the world by Kirati People and it is celebrated every year marking the ...
, in full moon day of
Mangsir Mangsir ( ne, मङ्गसिर or मङ्सिर or मार्ग ) is the eighth month in the Bikram Samwat, the official Nepali calendar. This month coincides with the mid-November to mid-December of the Gregorian calendar. Importa ...
in Kirati Rai villages. The major philosophy of Sakela is nature worship; importance is placed on paying tribute to ancestors to whom current generations owe their existence. Since Kirati people consider themselves the followers of the nature, they celebrate sakela to worship sky, earth, rivers, and forest on the one hand; they pay tribute towards the deceased members of their family on the other hand. During , the dance known as is performed. varies from village to village in the beating of jhyamta
cymbal A cymbal is a common percussion instrument. Often used in pairs, cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys. The majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs soun ...
s and
dhol Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...
. The choreography of depicts important daily activities, and explains the traditional origins of agricultural practices such as digging, tilling, weeding and farming cotton. Likewise, the imitation of the birds and animals is also performed in lively . Other activities like worshiping the tap and sun are depicted in the and in the spiritual , the ancestors, like "Tayama-Khiyama", hunter, Chasum, Narawa, "Paruhang-Nayuma" are shown in dance. The Kirati ancestor "Hetchhakuppa" is considered to be the first performer of . Around 45 silli are claimed to be in the existence even today.


Nwagi

Nwagi is celebrated during prior to eating the harvested food crops, Kirati-Rais clean the ancestral room(Suptulung) and various New crops are offered to ancestors during Nwagi puja. Nwagi puja also known as (Pirtri puja) Ancestral worship, it is believed that new food crops not be eaten until the Nwagi puja or without offered the ancestors. Nwagi puja is all about offering new food of the year to the ancestors' cook a lot of varieties of food (including alcohol) to offer to the ancestors. this puja perform by priest or elder people (male) of house performs all the rituals. During nwagi celebration also invite family relatives in house. different varieties of foods and alcohol serve to the guests relatives chat with each other and the day ends with the farewell. Kirati Rais call the Nwagi puja by different names and perform it in different ways.


Yele

Yele Sambat Yelam Sambat (Devanagari: येलम संबत् ) is the lunar calendar used by the Kirat community of Nepal. The Yelam Sambat calendar is named after the first Kirat king Yalambar. The Limbus call it ''Yele Tangbe'', the Rais call it ''Ye ...
also known as "Yaledong" By Rai People
Maghe Sankranti Maghe Sankranti (, , Nepal Bhasa: ) is a Nepali festival observed on the first of Magh in the Vikram Sambat (B.S) or Yele calendar bringing an end to the winter solstice containing month of Poush. Tharu people celebrate this particular day as ...
also celebrate same day. The Yele Sambat calendar is named after the first Kirat king
Yalambar Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kathman ...
. It is said that this calendar started when the Kirat king
Yalambar Yalamber or Yalung, Yalambar, Yalamwar, Yalamver ( Nepali: यलम्बर) was a Kirat warrior and first King of Kirata Kingdom in Nepal. He established Kirata Kingdom in 800 B.C.Kirat Yoyakhha His capital was Yalakhom, present day Kathman ...
defeated the Gopal dynasty in the
Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley ( ne, काठमाडौं उपत्यका; also known as the Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley ( ne, नेपाः उपत्यका, Nepal Bhasa: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑑅 𑐐𑐵𑑅, नेपाः गाः)), ...
. The Yele Sambat calendar begins on 15 January. This new year day is also celebrated as
Maghe Sankranti Maghe Sankranti (, , Nepal Bhasa: ) is a Nepali festival observed on the first of Magh in the Vikram Sambat (B.S) or Yele calendar bringing an end to the winter solstice containing month of Poush. Tharu people celebrate this particular day as ...
in Nepal when people eat sweet potato and various kinds of yams and
sel roti Sel roti () is a traditional Nepalese ring-shaped sweet fried dough made from rice flour. It is mostly prepared during Dashain and Tihar, widely celebrated Hindu festivals in Nepal as well as Sikkim, Kalimpong and Darjeeling regions in India. ...
.


Other festivals

*Wadangmi Festival: Wadangmi is a Major Festival of Rai Community of
Khalsa Khalsa ( pa, ਖ਼ਾਲਸਾ, , ) refers to both a community that considers Sikhism as its faith,Kha ...
Region of
Dhankuta Dhankuta ( ne, धनकुटा ) is a hill town and the headquarter of Koshi Zone located in Dhankuta District of Eastern Nepal. According to 2011 Nepal census, it has population of 26,440 inhabitants. History Until about 1963 Dhankuta Ba ...
District "Wadangmi" also known as "Papani" this festival started from
Kartik Purnima Kartika Purnima is a Hindu, Sikh and Jain cultural festival that is celebrated on Purnima (full moon day), the 15th (or 30th) lunar day of the month of Kartika. It falls in November or December of the Gregorian calendar and is also known as ...
and continues up to fifteen days . *Dhwangkum Festival: "Dhwangkum" is a cultural festival celebrated in the origin place of Wambule Rai. It is also called Dhwangkum. According to the Hindu calendar,
Janai Purnima List of festivals celebrated in Nepal: Main festivals Dashain ''Dashain'' ( ne, दशैं , also ''Baḍādaśhãin'' or ''Bijayā Daśamī'' ne, बिजया दशमी) is the 15-day-long festival and holidays of Nepal. It is the ...
is celebrated on a date. As it usually falls in August, it is also called Bhadau Purnima. Wambule calls this date "Dhwangkum Purne" In Dhwangkumo, Libju Upo (Libju Baje), Bhumju Upo (Bhumju Baje), Dibju Upo (Dibju Baje), Sisi Sikari, Earth(Dharti), Sky(Akash) and the ancestors are worshiped.


Folk songs and dances

Tody in the field of Nepali music, vocal lyrics dance and other arts the Kirati- Rais occupied a large space. Specially Eastern Nepali folk music mostly influence from Rai community.


Folk songs

Rai community has rich cultural rituals. Some are well preserved from the earliest time while some others are dying and some are already dead. The community stores a vast number of chham 'songs' i.e. Rungpuwachham, Hakparechham, Yari/Hiyarichham, Saimachham, Sakelachham, Dolokupmachham, Risiya/risiwa, Hopachham,Juwari,Salmaya,Laibari/Lambari Chham,Radamle etc. which are sung for different purposes on specific occasions. *"Hiyari Chham" is a special song that is performed on the occasion of the wedding ceremony in the Rai community. this song is a questions and answer song sung both male and female during wedding occasion. This song is sung in "Sungkhim" a (temporary or new house for guests). it is found that singing is done in some places even when the guests are leaving. * "Saima Chham" is a song of birth, life and living and it is sung at work and at the waterpoint etc. Saimachham sung specially by women. * "Risiya Chham", Risiwa or Risiya is the shamanic song sung by Nakchong, Mangpa, Bijuwa, Nakso, Risiya chham. It is sung in a rhythmic style performed in many ritual works. * "Hopmachham" is a great song based on Kirat Rais scriptural music. Etymologically, it is made up of two words hopma 'drink' and chham 'song': a drinking song or more accurately a song that makes you drunk with its charm. In other words, listening to this song one is drugged and enchanted with its magical properties. In order to sing this song, the knowledge of Kiranti oral tradition (Mundum) is necessary. According to the Kirati Rai belief, not anybody can sing the song even if he knows it; only the person who has gained the knowledge to sing it in his dream and has not learned it, can sing it. **a) Starting of the Hopmachham; It is widely believed that hopmachham is a marvelous song. When sung appropriately it could bring rain, light fire, dry green trees, give life to dead trees, attract animals' attention and force them to gather, make one cry, dance or laugh, and make plants and trees obey. For example, in the olden days a Hopmachham singer could make trees tie their tops together and again free them. **b) The ways of singing the Hopmachham; Hopmachham can be sung in two ways, viz. as monologue or duet. In a monologuous or "single" singing, the singer recounts the story of God Paruhang and the Goddess Sumnima. Therefore, we can say that hopmachham is a kind of hymn sung by Rai community. This kind of song addresses the history of creation as well as the deeds of Paruhang, the first man, and Sumnima, the first woman, which are today knows as Kiranti rituals. Singing hopmachham, the singer tells the history of origin from pre-historical age up to the present times. Naturally, it takes many days to complete it. General living styles can also be explained by these types of songs. People used to sing single hopmachham at work, on their way back from work and in the evening at home before sleeping time. * "Rungpuwachham" is as a branch of hopmachham, in which the singer describes the historical and cultural events as well the description of the bravery of the forefathers. Rungpuwachham is almost extinct these days. * "Sakela/Sakenwa Chham" is sung during the Sakela dance in Ubhauli and Udhauli The Rai people express their daily happenings and well wishes via Sakela songs and melodies. This song is performed in medium beat rhythm by dancers wearing traditional attires. Sakela song and dance are very popular in Nepali Culture. * "Hakpare Chham" can also be taken as a folk song in Kirant Rai community. This song can be sung anywhere and by anybody and in anytime.hakpare chham is popular folk song specially in Yamphu,Lohorung and Mewahang Rai community * "Laibari/Lamwari Chham" is one of the ancient original folk song of the Rais. In Bantawa Rai language "Laam" means Root "Wa"Means Water and "Ri" means Song "life song of rivers and streams".this folk song is an endangered already extinct these days. * "Ramdale Salang" is one of the most popular folk song sung mostly in Wambule Rai community Madal and Basuri is major instruments used in Ramdale Salang folk song. * "Salmaya" is a typical cultural song specially Jerung and Wambule Rai communities performed Salmaya song during Khauma Sama Pujas, ancestor worship ritual. * "Ayosa" is popular in the Kirat Rai community. Ayosa is a song sung by a Brothers-Siters or Boys-Girls in a group, in a herd, in a forest or in a marriage. Ayosa songs are especially expressions of life experiences. When modern music was not developed, it was customary to sing Ayosa to the tune of Murchunga, Binayo, Paat(leaf Instrument) and Basuri.


Folk dances

File:Sakela Silli dance in Dharan.jpg, Sakenwa Silli dance File:Bayung Rai Hang Silli Dance in Kathmandu 2011.jpg, (Segro)Hang silli dance File:Khaling Rai Silli Dance In Tundikhel Kathmandu.jpg, Wass silli dance File:Yamphu Rai Gelang Silli Dance In Sankhuwasabha.jpg, Gelang silli dance File:Thulung Rai Toshi Silli Dance In Kathmandu.jpg, Toshi silli dance * "Silli Dance": Silli dances are performed during
Udhauli Udhauli (उधौली) is a festival of the Kirat communities of Kirati people specially celebrated by Sunuwar, Limbu, Yakkha, Khambu Rai etc. of Nepal India and around the world by Kirati People and it is celebrated every year marking the ...
,
Ubhauli Ubhauli (उभौली) is festival of the Kirat communities of Sunuwar, Rai, Limbu and Yakkha of Nepal , India and around the world by Kirati people celebrated every year marking the migration phase upwards towards the hilly regions when ...
Sakela Sakela () is one of the main festival of Kirat Rai people, an ethnic group indigenous to Eastern Nepal and Sikkim, Kalimpong, and Darjeeling regions of India. Sakela is celebrated twice a year and is distinguished by two names ''Ubhauli'' and ''U ...
Festival Silli dances are different styles and types among the various Rai sub-group. in silli dances the major instruments used Jhyamta and
Dhol Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...
some Rai group only used Jhyamta in their silli dances. Kulung, Khaling, Thulung, Nachhiring Rais also used animal
Horn Horn most often refers to: *Horn (acoustic), a conical or bell shaped aperture used to guide sound ** Horn (instrument), collective name for tube-shaped wind musical instruments *Horn (anatomy), a pointed, bony projection on the head of various ...
(Pung Baja) in silli dances. Silli are mostly perform their daily activities that are similar to the activities of the human beings similarly the imitate other activities like worshiping the tap and sun the sillis show how people began agriculture like digging tilling, weeding and farming cotton. like wise the imitation of the Birds and animals, depiction of hunting, war etc. can be seen in silli dance. * "Wadangmi Papani", also knowan as Papani or wadangmet this dance perform during Wadangmi festival. Wadangmi is a great festival of Rai community in Khalsa region of
Dhankuta District Dhankuta District ( ne, धनकुटा जिल्ला) () is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 163,412. Dhankuta is the district headquarters of Dhan ...
. The dancing style of wadangmi is steps forward, three steps later, with the help of shoulder, the body communicates and dances to the beat of
Dhol Dhol (IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nort ...
and Jhyamta, singing songs of love, harmony and devotion. It is like a celebration of love. At this time, no one should scold or fight, if they scold or fight the ancestor deity
Budhahang Budhahang (Nepali:बुढाहाङ) was a Kirat Rai king of Khalsa territory of Eastern Nepal. His palace was located in the region currently known as Ankhisalla and Chintang. It is said that the Khalsa area of Dhankuta District included ...
will unhappy. At this time, there is a popular belief that if a boy offers love to a girl or a girl offers love to a boy, he should not complain. "This festive dance beautifully embodies the issue of women's freedom and also shows that women do not have to endure any pressure at this time. * "Chhonglak", also the part of Wadangmi Chhonglak is the language of the Rais of the Khalsa region of
Dhankuta District Dhankuta District ( ne, धनकुटा जिल्ला) () is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district covers an area of and has a population (2011) of 163,412. Dhankuta is the district headquarters of Dhan ...
. The word "Uchompakma" and "Lakwat" means to come from the soul to be happy, to forget all sorrows and get up. "Lak" means to dance happily. It is also said that it is time for the gods and goddesses to come to the Khalsa region. This is the initial stage of the Wadhangmi dance, which is celebrated throughout the Chhonglak festival to make happy the souls of the gods and goddesses. * "Hopcha" is the traditional classical dance of Rai community and is mostly practiced in
Dhankuta Dhankuta ( ne, धनकुटा ) is a hill town and the headquarter of Koshi Zone located in Dhankuta District of Eastern Nepal. According to 2011 Nepal census, it has population of 26,440 inhabitants. History Until about 1963 Dhankuta Ba ...
Region . * "Hurla" is cultural dance of Yamphu Rais of
Sankhuwasabha District Sankhuwasabha District ( ne, सङ्खुवासभा जिल्ला ) is one of 14 districts of Province No. 1 of eastern Nepal. The district's area is 3,480 km2 with a population of 159,203 in 2001 and 158,742 in 2011 ...
it is perform in the month of
Mangsir Mangsir ( ne, मङ्गसिर or मङ्सिर or मार्ग ) is the eighth month in the Bikram Samwat, the official Nepali calendar. This month coincides with the mid-November to mid-December of the Gregorian calendar. Importa ...
(November–December) Hurla dance is performed with singing song during rice harvesting season in paddy field. this dance also called Paddy dance(Dhan Nach). * "Shamanistic Dance" performed by Bijuwa,Nakchhong,Nakcho,Bijuwa Mangpa Shamans of Rai Community in various Ritual activities. * "Maruni Dance" is a Popular Nepali folk Dance there are different types of Maruni dances Rai Community also perform maruni dance in various occasions Adhiya Maruni,Madale Maruni are very popular Maruni dances in Rai Community.


Folk musical instruments

Some of the musical instruments found in Rai community are: Dhol, Jhyamta Binayo, Murchunga, Murali/Bansuri, Mandala (madal), Jhyali, Majira, Bimbilia, Sumbak), Khakuma, Pung, Sillimi, Yalamberbaja etc. *
Binayo Binayo (Nepali बिनायो) is a kind of traditional Kiranti musical instrument made from Malingo (a variety of Bamboo). It is played by plucking its metal wire reed with fore finger being gripped between the teeth. Binayo is popular in the ...
Kongkongma/Dong Kongkongma or Binayo is a traditional Kirati- Rai Instrument made from hidden Malingo species of bamboo. Binayo is made by digging in the middle of a small bamboo-about six-inch stream, removing the tongue, tying the thread on both sides and carving a beautiful pattern. Binayo made in this way is played by shaking the long rope of the bar in front of the tongue When playing in this way, Binayo is placed on both the lips of the mouth to make various vakas and the vibration caused by the push of air from inside is affected by the tongue.This instrument is carried by a Kirat Rai woman hanging on the tuna of her cholo. * Dhol Bubuk Ken The main rhythm instrument of the Kirat Rais is Dhol or (Bubuk ken). This instrument is mainly used in Sakewa (Sakela dance) in some places mangpa and Bijuwas are also used for worship while sitting in the place . It is also a popular instrument in Nepal. * Jhyamta Munikomma/Maniken Along with the Dhol, Jhyamta (Munikomma) is also played in Sakewa Sakela dance. In some places, Bijuwa and Mangpas are also used for worship while sitting in the place. *
Yalamber Baja The Yalamber or Yahamber Baja (यलम्बर बाजा) is a Nepali tube zither in the Kirati tradition. It is one of three tube-zithers documented in Nepal by the Nepali Folk Musical Instruments Museum in 2004. Instruments in Nepal tend ...
Yala Ken Among the various bamboo instruments, the Yalambar is one of the most important and original instrument of the Kirat Rais . By keeping the eyes on both the sides of the bamboo, the choya of the same bamboo is taken out and a four-cornered hole is made in the middle of the bamboo choita chaper. This instrument is also an indicator of musical civilization. * Murchunga Kakkong Murchunga Or Kakkong made of iron is the original traditional instrument of Kirat Rais. It is customary for Kirat Rai youths to give this instrument as a gift to their favorite friends. * Leaf (instrument) Sumbak Ken Sumbak or leaf instrument is a musical instrument that is played by holding the side of a smooth leaf between two lips and taking out various vakas. This instrument is especially popular in Kirati community of Eastern Nepal,Sikkim,Darjeeling region. * Chari Baja
Pan flute A pan flute (also known as panpipes or syrinx) is a musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting of multiple pipes of gradually increasing length (and occasionally girth). Multiple varieties of pan flutes have been ...
Khakuma Khakuma or Charibaja is an instrument made of bamboo. this instrument is called Charibaja or (Khakuma) because it sounds like a bird when it is blown of the mouth. * Animal-horn instrument Pung Ken Pung is an instrument played by blowing the horn of Animal Wild buffalo with a hole in the top and placing a Malingo pipe in that small hole. This baja is played along with Dhol-zyamta with Nokcho (Shaman Priest) when going to worship at Tosh or Toshi,Wass (Sakela) Than. This instrument is a traditional instrument prevalent in the Khambu Rai community. This instrument is used with special importance by the Kulung, Khaling, Thulung, Nachhering of the Rai community. Its sound is similar to that of a conch shell. * Murali Bibilimma Murali (Bibilimma) Flute is made of small bamboo of Malingo species. Nigalo Malingo bamboo is very good for to make Murali flute . It is cut horizontally on one side and a thin bamboo choya or bhakkimila wood is placed there and a hole is made. On the other side, 6–7 hole are placed. To play it, you put the side of the flute in your mouth and blow it slowly, then the sound starts flowing from there. In order to convert this flowing sound into music, the holes covered by the fingers are covered and opened in order. When playing the flute in this way, a very melodious voice flows. It is the most beloved instrument of Kirat Rais. * Jharky Thal Chambyken Chambyken (Jharky Thal) Bronze Plate are especially played by Mangpa, Bijuwa,
Nakchhong Nakchhong (नाक्छोङ) are the Shamanic tribal priest of Rai people an ethnic group that is predominantly located in the Himalayas of Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong. Nakchhong is the main pri ...
s when they Chanting Mundum mantras. * Jor Murali Jor Murali (Two in One Flute) is endangered folk instrument of Kirat Rais. Jor Murali is played by tying two strings made of bamboo sticks with the same sound. Kirat Rai style of Jor Murali Baja is left to make in the present days. this Instrument have already become extinct. * Dhyangro ''Sangra Ken Dhyangro or (Sangra Ken) is mostly used by Khambu Rai Shamans; Mangpa, Bijuwa, well as their allies Kencharawa. * Sillimi This silimi is made by placing 12 rings side by side in a flat elongated shape made of iron and placing four rings under the lower grip. The silimi baja is played by holding the sili dance in one's hand and shaking it with the dance moves. This is the traditional instrument of the Rai Community *
Madal The madal ( ne, मादल) or maadal is a Nepalese folk musical instrument. The madal is used mainly for rhythm-keeping in Nepalese folk music. It is very popular and widely used as a hand drum in Nepal. The madal has a cylindrical body with a s ...
Rantang Madal is one of the most popular instruments in Nepali music today. This Madal wooden stone is made of Animal leather, coal, rice husk and other materials. It is believed that Madal was made after the Yalambar Baja of the Kiratis. Madal has a special cultural significance in Wambule Rai community. * Basuri Basuri is also a major folk Instrument among Kirat Rais. Basuri has a Special Cultural significance important of Wambule Rai community. * Suseli Suisuila The Kirat Rais used Susulila/Suseli as sweet music.
Whistling Whistling without the use of an artificial whistle is achieved by creating a small opening with one's lips, usually after applying moisture (licking one's lips or placing water upon them) and then blowing or sucking air through the space. The a ...
can be done only with the mouth without the help of any object, while using the fingers of the hand in the mouth is also used to transmit signals far and wide. *
Kangling ''Kangling'' (), literally translated as "leg" (''kang'') "flute" (''ling''), is the Tibetan name for a trumpet or horn made out of a human tibia or femur, used in Tibetan Buddhism for various chöd rituals as well as funerals performed by a ch ...
Bhalangkat Kangling is mostly used by Rai (Shamans) Mangpa, Bijuwa, Nakchong during ritual activities


Occupations

Farming is the main occupation of the Rai people. Mostly they cultivated
maize Maize ( ; ''Zea mays'' subsp. ''mays'', from es, maíz after tnq, mahiz), also known as corn (North American and Australian English), is a cereal grain first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico about 10,000 years ago. Th ...
,
millet Millets () are a highly varied group of small-seeded grasses, widely grown around the world as cereal crops or grains for fodder and human food. Most species generally referred to as millets belong to the tribe Paniceae, but some millets al ...
,
wheat Wheat is a grass widely cultivated for its seed, a cereal grain that is a worldwide staple food. The many species of wheat together make up the genus ''Triticum'' ; the most widely grown is common wheat (''T. aestivum''). The archaeologi ...
,
mustard Mustard may refer to: Food and plants * Mustard (condiment), a paste or sauce made from mustard seeds used as a condiment * Mustard plant, one of several plants, having seeds that are used for the condiment ** Mustard seed, seeds of the mustard p ...
in dry terraces, and
rice Rice is the seed of the grass species ''Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima ''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...
in the wet fields. The grains grown are mostly for their own daily needs such as to use in festivals and to feed the animals. Besides that they use it to make spirits and beer to sell at the bazar at the local market. In almost all households women raise buffalo,
pig The pig (''Sus domesticus''), often called swine, hog, or domestic pig when distinguishing from other members of the genus '' Sus'', is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is variously considered a subspecies of ''Sus ...
s and
chicken The chicken (''Gallus gallus domesticus'') is a domesticated junglefowl species, with attributes of wild species such as the grey and the Ceylon junglefowl that are originally from Southeastern Asia. Rooster or cock is a term for an adult m ...
s, and they run tiny provision stores for supplementary income, especially used to sell homemade beer and alcohol (Lee, 2005:16). In the past their profession was hunting and they liked to use bow and arrows, such as they used to weave their own clothes made from Bhangra (allo) to wear. But in the modern times Rais are also employed in foreign
military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...
service and in foreign employment like the Indian Gorkha Regiment , British Gurkha Regiment , Gurkha Contingent of Singapore Police Along with their relatives they had the opportunity to work and stay aboard in countries like United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Brunei and India. Because of that financially, comparing to other indigenous groups, they are better off. Daily housework, such as cooking is the responsibility of the young women, especially girls,. They tend to be the ones who gather firewood from the forests and carry water from the communal water sources while men are mostly involved in the agriculture activities. Inherently,
Kirati The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...
people use the land under the Kipat system where the people exercised communal rights over the land, land that was tax free and included dominion over all cultivated lands, forests, streams and rivers within its bounds (Bista, 1967:38). But, it is the system that if other groups used the Kipat they have to pay tax to the owner of the land. People used to farm their land on their own, seldom are fields rented or cultivated by anyone others than the owners. Almost every single Rai village has a few soldiers, police or civil servants and older pensioners. Because of their bravery, fearlessness, honesty and straightforward nature it's easy for them to join the armies. Nowadays many Rais are also working with the government services too; some holding high ranks and positions (ibid: 39). These types of professions really show the Rai people as a hard working people. The planting and harvesting seasons from spring to autumn gives them plenty of work to do and in winter time villagers make trips towards the important towns to buy necessary goods such as salt, oil and materials for clothing. They carry goods for trade rather than money on these trips. One farmer may have several fields and they shift from one to another according to the seasons. Traditional Bullocks are used for ploughing the land, the grass and dry undergrowth are burned away, supplying the soil with ash residue (ibid: 38). A majority of the people are in debt, the usual practice for money transaction to be made against security in the land.


Notable Rai people

* Agansing Rai, recipient of 13th Victoria Cross *
Alisha Rai Alisha Rai is a Nepalese film actress, model and dancer. She rose to fame from her dance performance in the Nepalese movie ''Loot 2'' (2017). Before then, Alisha had also acted in the leading role of a Kiranti language movie entitled ''Binayo''. ...
, Nepalese actress * Amar Singh Rai Indian Politician from Darjeeling *
Ashok Rai Ashok Kumar Rai ( ne, अशोककुमार राई) is a Nepalese politician belonging to the People's Socialist Party. He was previously the vice-chairman of CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninist) before he broke off with other indigenous le ...
, Former Vice Chairperson of Communist Party of Nepal and Senior leader of Socialist Party *
Asit Rai Asit Rai (Nepali: असीत राई) is a writer and novelist in the Nepali language from Darjeeling district, India. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award The Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honour in India, which the Sahitya Ak ...
, writer and novelist
Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
winner *
Bal Bahadur Rai Bal Bahadur Rai (बल बहादुर राई) (1921-2010) was the leader of the Nepali Congress political party and a former cabinet minister of Nepal government. He had shown active participation in major democratic movements in Nepal his ...
, senior cabinet minister, acted as Prime Minister; senior leader of Nepali Congress Party *
Bartika Eam Rai Bartika Eam Rai ( ne, वर्तिका एम राई) is a Nepalese born-American singer-songwriter based in New York City. In 2016, Rai burst onto public consciousness with the release of her debut album, ''Bimbaakash''. Rai has releas ...
Nepali Singer/Song Writer *
Chandra Das Rai Chandra Das Rai (13 April 1924 - 8 August 2020) popularly known as C.D Rai was a politician of pre merger Sikkim, bureaucrat and former journalist. He was a senior leader in Sikkim State Congress. Personal life Chandra Das Rai was born on April ...
, Indian politician, senior leader in Sikkim State Congress, bureaucrat and former journalist. *
Dayahang Rai Dayahang Rai ( ne, दयाहाङ् राई) is a Nepali actor, director, and playwright. Dayahang is known for his uniqueness in Nepali cinema. He is one of the most popular and acclaimed actors of Nepal. He has starred in over 40 films ...
, actor, director, play writer and founder of 'Mandala Theatre' *
Deo Prakash Rai Deo Prakash Rai (December 1926 – 1981) was an Indian politician. A former Gorkha Brigade soldier, he was the general secretary of the All India Gorkha League and was made a minister in the West Bengal state government in 1967, 1969 and 1971. ...
General secretary of the All India Gorkha League and named as Minister in the West Bengal state government. *
Dhiraj Rai Dhiraj Rai ( ne, धीरज राई) also known as ''Stage King'' is a singer, musician and songwriter from Khotang, Nepal. Rai's first recorded song is ‘Luki Luki’. Career Rai started his career in 1990. Generally, his songs are based ...
, Nepalese Singer * Dil Maya Rai, National Assembly of Bhutan * Garja Man Rai, Bhutanese Politician *
Haiman Das Rai Das Rai, (1919–2019) better known by his nom de plume Kirat, was an Indian writer, Nepali litterateur, and social worker. Literary work Kirat received the Rashtrapari Sikshak Award in 1994. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for outstandi ...
Writer in Indian Nepali Literature
Sahitya Akademi The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
winner * Hari Prasad Gorkha Rai writer * Indra Bahadur Rai, writer and literary critic * Jai Bir Rai, Minister of Education Bhutan * Jitu Rai, Indian shooter
Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
and
Khel Ratna Award The Khel Ratna Award (), officially known as the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award ( Major Dhyan Chand Sport Jewel Award), is the highest sporting honour of India. It is awarded annually by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Governm ...
winner *
Lain Singh Bangdel Lain Singh Bangdel / Lain Bangdel (Rai) ( ne, लैनसिंह बाङ्देल (राई)) (1919– October 15, 2002), was Nepal's foremost artist, novelist, and art historian. In addition to being a leading authority on Nepales ...
, former Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy *
Lalit Rai Colonel Lalit Rai, VrC is a former Indian Army officer who was decorated for his brave actions during the Kargil War in 1999. As the commanding officer (CO) of the 1st battalion, 11 Gorkha Rifles, he was tasked with capturing the strategic he ...
, Indian Kargil War * Man Bahadur Rai Indian Army Officer *
Manikala Rai Manikala Rai (born 27 November 1988) is a Nepalese ultra runner who now lives in France. Rai is said to be "Nepal's first international female ultra runner." She won the women's race in the North Face 100k in Hong Kong in December 2013, with a ti ...
, Nepalese ultra runner *
Meenakshi Madan Rai Justice Meenakshi Madan Rai (born 12 July 1964) is an Indian Judge. She has served as Acting Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court The Sikkim High Court is the High Court of the Indian state of Sikkim. The history of the court can be traced ...
first female Judge of Sikkim High Court *
Melina Rai Melina Rai ( ne, मेलिना राई) is a Nepalese singer. She received the Best Playback Singer Female award at the Radio Kantipur Awards 2017. Early life and career Trained by her father in the art of music since the age of ten, Ra ...
, Nepalese singer * Mira Rai, athlete and trail runner * Narad Muni Thulung, senior cabinet acted as Prime Minister of Nepal *
Pawan Kumar Chamling Pawan Kumar Chamling (born 22 September 1949) is an Indian politician and the former Chief Minister of Sikkim. Chamling is the Founding President of the Sikkim Democratic Front, which governed the state for five successive terms since 1994. Ch ...
, Longest serving Chief Minister of India (24 years, 165 days), founder of the Sikkim Democratic Front party * Pradeep Kumar Rai, lyricist of current Nepalese National Anthem,
Sayaun Thunga Phulka "", or "" ( ne, सयौँ थुँगा फूलका, ; "Made of Hundreds of Flowers"), is the national anthem of Nepal. It was officially adopted as the anthem on 3 August 2007 during a ceremony held at the conference hall of National P ...
*
Prem Das Rai Prem Das Rai (born 31 July 1954) is an Indian politician from the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party. Rai was a Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) from the Sikkim constituency of Sikkim, India, first elected in 2009 election and re-elected in ...
, Indian politician from Sikkim *
Rajan Mukarung Rajan Mukarung ( राजन मुकारुङ; born 24 February 1978) is a writer and novelist of Nepali literature. His novel '' Damini Bhir'' was awarded with Madan Puraskar for the year 2012. He is one of the initiators of the movement c ...
, writer and activist * Rajesh Payal Rai, singer and music composer *
Ram Prasad Rai Ram Prasad Rai (Nepali: रामप्रसाद राई) (born March 1, 1909 – unknown) was a Nepali revolutionary, guerrilla leader, military theorist and organizer of the Liberation Army in East part of Nepal. Rai was a major figure of ...
, revolutionary fighter against Rana autocracy *
Ratna Bahadur Rai Ratna Bahadur Rai is an Indian politician. He was elected to the Lok Sabha, lower house of the Parliament of India from Darjeeling, West Bengal as a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) The Communist Party of India (Marxis ...
, Indian Politician From
Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...
* Rajendra Kumar Rai 3rd Chief Minister of
Province No. 1 Province No. 1 (proposed names: Kirat Autonomous State, Kirat, Limbuwan, Khambuwan Rashtriya Morcha, Nepal, Khambuwan, Mount Everest, Sagarmatha, Virata, Birat and Koshi River, Koshi) is the easternmost of the seven Provinces of Nepal, province ...
Nepal *
Sabin Rai Sabin Rai ( ne, सबिन राई) is a Nepali singer and lyricist who is called as the Bryan Adams of Nepal because of the voice. His first successful single was "Komal Tyo Timro" from the album ''Sataha''. Although his song "Ekai Aakash ...
, pop singer from Dharan * Santa Bahadur Rai, Secretary & Chairman Public Service Commission * Sarita Rai, Indian Politician from
West Bengal West Bengal (, Bengali: ''Poshchim Bongo'', , abbr. WB) is a state in the eastern portion of India. It is situated along the Bay of Bengal, along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of . West Bengal is the fourt ...
* Shambhu Rai Nepali folk singer *
Sher Dhan Rai Sher Dhan Rai ( ne, शेरधन राई; born 23 February 1971) is a Nepalese politician and Former Chief Minister of Province No. 1, a province in eastern Nepal. He was elected parliamentary party leader of CPN (UML), the largest party ...
, Former Chief Minister, province no 1 and Minister of Information and Communications (Nepal) * Shiba Kumar Rai, scientist, Professor of medical microbiology and ex-member of National Planning Commission of the government of Nepal * Shiva Kumar Rai, Nepali writer and the first Gorkha minister in the state of West Bengal * Shrawan Mukarung, poet * Suk Bahadur Rai, awarded Aung San Thuriya in 1950
A.D. The terms (AD) and before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term is Medieval Latin and means 'in the year of the Lord', but is often presented using "our Lord" instead of "the Lord", ...
*
Tarundeep Rai Tarundeep Rai (born 22 February 1984, in Namchi, Sikkim, India) is an Indian archer. He is conferred with the Padma Shri, in 2021, by the Government of India, for his contribution in Sports. Earlier, in 2018, he was awarded the Khel Ratan Aw ...
, Indian Olympiad archer
Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...
and
Arjuna Award The Arjuna Award, officially known as Arjuna Awards for Outstanding Performance in Sports and Games, is the second-highest sporting honour of India, the highest being the Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. The award is named after Arjuna, one ...
winner *
Tanka Bahadur Rai Tanka Bahadur Rai (born 14 October 1950) is an Indian National Congress politician from the state of Assam. He was a Member of the Assam Legislative Assembly from the Indian National Congress for Barchalla. He was Deputy Speaker and then Speake ...
, Indian Politician from Assam belong to
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party but often simply the Congress, is a political party in India with widespread roots. Founded in 1885, it was the first modern nationalist movement to emerge in the British Em ...
* Tek Bahadur Rai, politician from Bhutan, Member of the National Assembly of Bhutan * Tulshi Devi Rai, Former minister of Water Security, Public Health Engineering, Social Justice, Empowerment & Welfare Departments of Sikkim *
Wilson Bikram Rai Wilson Bikram Rai ( ne, विल्सन विक्रम राई) is a Nepalese comedian, actor, singer, dancer and film producer. He played the role as Takme Buda on NTV sitcom ''Meri Bassai'' (2012–2015). Now he is featuring in the ...
, comedian, actor


See also

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Ethnic groups in Bhutan There are numerous ethnic groups in Bhutan, but the Ngalop people who speak the Dzongkha language constitute a majority of the Bhutanese population. The Bhutanese are of four main ethnic groups, which themselves are not necessarily exclusive: the ...
*
Ethnic groups in Nepal Ethnic groups in Nepal are delineated using language, ethnic identity or the caste system in Nepal. They are categorized by common culture and endogamy. Endogamy carves out ethnic groups in Nepal. Linguistic groups Nepal's diverse linguistic he ...
*
Kiranti languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kira ...
(
Rai Languages The Kiranti languages are a major family of Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in Nepal and India (notably Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and Kumai) by the Kirati people. External relationships George van Driem had formerly proposed that the Kir ...
) *
Sikkimese people Sikkimese are people who inhabit the Indian state of Sikkim. The dominance ethnic diversity of Sikkim is represented by 'Lho-Mon-Tsong-Tsum' that identifies origin of three races since seventeenth century. The term 'Lho' refers to Bhutias (Lhopo) ...
*
South Asian ethnic groups South Asian ethnic groups are an ethnolinguistic grouping of the diverse populations of South Asia, including the nations of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka. While Afghanistan is variously considered to ...
*
Kirati people The Kirati people, also spelled as Kirant or Kiranti, are a Sino-Tibetan ethnic group. They are peoples of the Himalayas, mostly the Eastern Himalaya extending eastward from Nepal to North East India (predominantly in the Indian state of Sikkim ...


References


External links

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Rai languages of Nepal Indigenous rights RadioKirat Rai Historical DocumentaryWorldcat archive related Rai PeopleTwo Rai Shamans/Rituals From Arun Valley Sankhuwasabha District of East Nepal 1990Kirat Rai Folk Tune By Kirat Rai Cultural Artist GroupRai Songs and RitualsAcademic Research Project on Rai Culture by the University of Vienna, AustriaThe Kirat Rais – An indigenous Ethnic Group of NepalKirat Rai Community Facebook PageIsilim magazine journals Dumi Kirat Rai Funsikim digitalhimalayaKirat Rai ScriptPavana Cāmaliṅa: zamīna se juṛe eka rājanītijña kā safaranāmāBinayo Kirat Rai Folk Historical Movie 2018Population Demography of Nepal Volume IICensus of India 2011 LanguageUnited Kirat Rai Organisation of America

Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)
{{Authority control Indigenous peoples of Nepal Ethnic groups in Nepal Social groups of West Bengal Himalayan peoples Sikkim Kiranti Ethnic groups in Northeast India