Kirat Rai

Introduction

1.0. Kirat People: An Overview

Kirat refers to the Kirat group or Kirat confederation that includes the Rai, Limbo and Sunuwar an ethnic group of Eastern Himalayas of Darjeeling, a District of West Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan and North Eastern states of India and Nepal. Kirat people are native or indigenous tribes.[1] The tradition and history of simple and brave Kirat people can be traced to early Mongoloid or Kirat movements.[2]

1.1. Present Geographical Location

In India, Kirat Rais predominantly resides in the state of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Doars of West Bengal. A large number of Kirat Rais are also living in Assam and other North Eastern States.[3]Rais are indigenous to the Majh or Middle Kirat of eastern Nepal the traditional homeland of the Rais extends across Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Bhojpur, Makawanpur, Dharan, Jhapa, Udayapur, Dhankuta, Morang, Ilam in the northern mountains of Nepal, west of the Arun River, in the Sun Kosi river watershed.[4]

The Rais are also know as in their own villages a Jimi Kirat. Many of the Rais groups do not raise or eat goat and beef meat. The populations of Rais are nearly about six lakhs.[5]

1.2.  Different Groups of Rais

There are as many groups of Rais’ families such as Thar, Pacha. Again Rais have different types of Subclan or Samet. These clans help to identify from were that particular Kirat Rais hails.[6] Samet further pinpoints the family root of that particular kirat Rais.[7]

1.3.  Kirat Rais Social Life

The Rais follow the customs and traditions made by their elders and leaders. Their social structures and rituals are open and liberal. Due to this each clan and sub-clans have its own beliefs and customs as some do not partake of goat and beef meat[8] while other do. Rais do not practice any discrimination on the basis of these groups and there are no rules of commonality while dining. Women are not discriminated against in Rais society. The Rais have the traditional of Parma or reciprocal labor system, as Rais mainly are farmers and hunters or archer. Since kirat Rais were primarily agriculturist the food habit at morning was bread with Jand (Hengma, fermented millet bear).[9] Traditional Rais house are made of Thatched and Bamboo. Kirat Rais female usually used Mujetro or Burkey (shawl), Cholo (Blouse) Guniu (Saree) Hembari (Cloth to cover belly and loin part) Patuki (Kamar band).

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[1] Sikkim unpublished article regarding Kirat Rais tribal status, 1.

[2] Omesh Saigal, Tripura: Its History and Culture, (Delhi: Naurang Rai, Concept Publishing Company, 1978). 68 (An authentic history of Kirat Rais is yet to be written, until then we have to make inference on the migration of these communities).

[3] Sikkim.Op.Cit, 1.

[4] Netra B. Thapa. A short history of Nepal (Kathumandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 2001), 11.

[5] Sikkim Op.Cit, 1.

[6] Ibid. 2.

[7] Ibid. 2.

[8] It is believed that if Kirat Rais eat beef or mutton their Dewa or Pitra will get offended and bring some kind of sickness or infliction into the family whereas others have no problem in taking beef and mutton. It must be due to clan and Samet differences.

[9] Sikkim Op.Cit, 2.