Tamang
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Tamang (also known as Murmi) are one of the several ethnic groups living in Nepal descended from Tibeto-Burman origins. Living mainly north and east of the Newars in the Kathmandu valley, they constitute 5.6% of Nepal's population, which places their population at 1,280,000, slightly higher than the Newars. Due to their geographical location, their language is vaguely intelligible with Newari but closely related to both Tibetan and Sherpa.
The name Tamang, in Tibetan, means horse traders, which suggest that their ancestors came from the north and traded horses with the local community (Newars) and later settled and intermarried among them. However, many of them today earn a living through serving as porters. Like the Sherpas, they are also good mountaineers and mountain-guides. Some of Tamang were also recruited to serve in the British and Indian Gurkha regiments.
The Tamangs are followers of Tibetan Buddhism mixed with elements of the pre-Buddhist Bön and the Tambaist religion. Due to their proximity to the Newar, a slight Hindu influence can be seen in their practises. Their priests include Lama, Bombo and Tamba. According to the 2001 census, 90.26% of the ethnic Tamang in Nepal were Boudhists and 7.69% were Hindus.[citation needed]
Many Tamang clans do not permit intermarriage with other ethnic groups, although some clans do permit intermarriages with the Gurung, Magar, Newar, and Chhettri. Their descent is traced patrilineally.
