Limbu

The Limbu (meaning: archer) ethnic group belong to the Kiranti group or Kirat confederation that includes the Rai and Sunuwar ethnic groups. Their population of 400,000 is centered on the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Panchthar and Ilam, all within the district of Mechi in Nepal, Sikkim, and a smaller number in the township of Darjeeling in West Bengal and Bhutan. They speak a Tibeto-Burman dialect called Yakthungpan, which uses a script based on the Tibetan alphabet. They are divided between the Lhasa gorta (those from Lhasa), and Kashi gorta, those who come from the Benaras.

The Limbu are agriculturalists. Rice and maize are their principal crops. Although the abundance of land has made cultivation of new acreage possible, productivity is greatly limited by insufficient technology. Excess crops are often traded for food that cannot be grown in the region or for necessary items.

Marriage were arranged by the parents in the past, thus resulting very little or no say between the children. Today, as western influence began to penetrate into the Limbus, the children have more say in which partner to decide with. The Limbus have three types of legal marriages: adultery, arrangement, and abduction. In the case of adultery, a compensation must be paid to the previous husband. Women are quite influential within the Limbu families, particularly when their husbands are away from home serving in the army. However, she is only fully recognized when she bears her first child. The Limbu trace their lineage patrilineally.

The Limbus follow the Kiranti Mundum religion. However, like the Rai, their religion is influenced by both Hinduism and Lamaism, although Lamaist influence is more immenient in the Limbus than the Rai. Their religion is onshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass the rocks. They bury their dead. They celebrate the dance festivals of Kelangma popularly known Chyabrung (two-sided drum) and Yarakma (Paddy dance) as major events. Their priests include the Fedangba, Shamba and Yewa-Yema.

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