Limbu people

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Selected ethnic groups of Nepal; Bhotia, Sherpa, Thakali Gurung Kiranti, Rai, Limbu Newari Pahari Tamang
Selected ethnic groups of Nepal;
Bhotia, Sherpa, Thakali
Gurung
Kiranti, Rai, Limbu
Newari
Pahari
Tamang


The Limbu (meaning: archer) or Yakthumba/Yakthung (in Limbu language) are an indigenous ethnic group that belongs to the Kiranti group or Kirat confederation that includes the Rai. Their approx population of 400,000 is centered on the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Panchthar and Ilam, all within the Mechi and Kosi zones in Nepal, also known as Limbuwan, as well as the East and West districts of Sikkim. A smaller number are scattered throughout the cities of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, India and also in North and South Sikkim and Bhutan.

Limbus speak a Tibeto-Burman language called Yakthungpan, literally "language of Limbus", also called simply Limbu. It uses the "Kirat Sirijonga" script based on the Tibetan script.
Limbu Clans and Tribes are said to be divided into the Lhasa gotra (those from Lhasa,Tibet) and Kashi gotra, those who come from the Benaras.However,there is no evidence for it.

They celebrate the dance festivals of Kelangma popularly known Chyabrung (two-sided drum) and Yarakma (Paddy dance) as major events. Limbu have their own script called Sirijunga. There are many books written in the Limbu language. Their faith is onshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass the rocks. They bury their dead. The population of the Limbus, according to the census of 1991, is 2.4% of the national total.

Yakthungma elder from the Hembya clan.
Yakthungma elder from the Hembya clan.


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[edit] Limbu economy

The Limbus traditionally practiced subsistence farming. Rice and maize comprised their principal crops. Although there is an abundance of arable land, productivity is greatly limited by insufficient technology. Excess crops are often traded for food that cannot be grown in the region.

A sizable number of Limbu youths used to enlist in the British and Indian Gurkha regiments, providing their families with a steady stream of income. Thanks to the Gurkha revenue, the Limbu community as a whole was lifted considerably in terms of health and education. They have good a living standard compared to others.

The Map of Limbuwan.
The Map of Limbuwan.



[edit] Wedding Practices

Limbus, in general, marry within their own community. Boys are at liberty to choose a girl and girls are equally free to decide whether to spend life with the boy in question or not (Jones and Jones, 1976). Cross-cousin marriage is not allowed in Limbu culture. Marriage between a man and the widow of his elder brother can take place if they mutually agree. Marriage between a man and a woman outside family relations and having different thars (clans) is also possible either by arrangement or by mutual consent of the boy and the girl in question. It is conventionally said that the customs and traditions of Limbus were established in the distant past by Sawa Yethang (council of eight kings/leaders). The marriages are mostly arranged by parents or result when a boy elopes with a girl. Asking for a girl's hand, that is the most important ceremony. In that system, the girl can ask for anything and an unlimited amount of gold, silver, etc. This confirms to the girl's family that the boy is financially secure enough to keep their daughter happy. Few days after the wedding, the boy's family members have to visit the girl's house with a piglet and some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks depending upon the financial standard of his house. The key ceremonies of a Limbu wedding take place in the groom's house rather than that of the bride's because girl has to stay with her husband. There are two special dances in this ceremony, one is called "yalakma" or dhan nach in Nepali(rice harvest dance) and "Kelangma" or Chyabrung in Nepali. Yalakma is characterized by men and women dancing in a slow circle, whereas Kelangam consist of complex footwork that goes with the beat of the drums. Anyone can join the dance and they can go for long hours. Yalakma also celebrates the harvest season in addition to being a feature of social occasions including weddings.

[edit] Limbu Religion & Festivals

The Limbus follow the Kiranti Mundhum oral 'scripture' similar to the Bön,shaman. However, their religion is also influenced by later Tibetan Buddhism, and Hinduism. They have many different classes of ritual specialists, of which "Phedangma", "Yema/Yeba", and "Shamba" are some. Their supreme deity is Tagera Ningwaphuma, but deity Yuma is the most important and popular among the Limbus and is worshiped in all occasions. Yuma is the mother of all the Limbus, therefore one regards his or her mother as a goddess. Their religion is enshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass. Traditionally, they buried their dead but due to the influence of their Hindu neighbours, cremating is gaining in popularity as well. Their priests include the Fedangba, Shamba and Yewa-Yema. According to the Nepal Census of 2001, out of the 359,379 Limbu, 86.29% were practising traditional Kiranti religion and 11.32% were Hindu and others. Modern Limbus, especially those living in parts of India also been influenced by Christianity.

[edit] Limbu traditional music and singing styles

The folk-literature of Limbus is very rich and because of this, the Limbus residing in Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam, Nepal and Bhutan, have their own identity because of immense belief in "Yumawad". Their traditions and cultures are still alive. Yumawad is a type of religious scripture, which have been contiouously kept alive by their religious head and handed over from generation to generation verbally. Some of these oral transmission of religious and traditional teachings are also included in Limbu traditional music with the mixture of social stories, dreams or just plain everyday life. There has been a rich tradition of Limbus singing their folk-songs. Their folk-songs can be divided into the following groups:

1. Khyali- It is a conversational song but young girls and boys sing it with poetic expressions and in a very sweet tone.

2. Traditional Love Songs-
a) Sakpa Palam Samlo- This song is sung during the Kusakpa Yeaalang dance in fast beat.
b) Kemba Palam Samlo- This song is sung during the Kemba Yeaalang dance in slow beat.
c) Domke Akma Palam Samlo- It is sung when doing the normal chores and also during the Domke Akma dance.

3. Hakpare Samlo- this song is sung by middle-aged men and women, who have interest in Mundhum and who are well-known in it. One can find spiritual and worldly specialities in this song.

4. Nisammang Sewa Samlo- This song is sung during religious functions. It is a devotional song. Dancing is one of the important aspect of the life of Limbus. Based on acting-style, the following types of dances are performed:
i) Dance performed after origin of life: This type of dance is known as Ke Lang or Chyabrung Lang. The dance imitates the actions of animals, insects and any form of living beings.
ii) Agricultural dance: Under this type of dance there are -
a) Yea Kakma- This dance is performed after night falls after the crops are reaped.
b) Damke Akme- This dance is performed while sowing crops.

iii) War dance: This form of dance is known as 'Nahangma' and is performed during "Nahangma"- their religious function. In this dance, only adult males and "Shamani" priests can take part. During the dance, they carry a sword in their right hand and a shield in their left hand, or an arrow in their right hand and a bow in their left hand.

iv) Historical dance: In this dance form, the historical war of ten Limbus fought in Aambepojoma Kamketlungma is depicted.

v) Mysterious and ancient dance performed by Shamani priests: this type of dance is known as Yagrangsing Lang, Phungsok Lang, Tongsing Lang. The dance is performed only by the Shamani priests viz. Fedangma, samba, Yewa and Yema.

[edit] Limbus & Hindu Caste System

Nepal's pre-eminent sociologist, Professor Dor Bahadur Bista, asserted that, of all the proverbial thirty-six caste and ethnic groups of Nepal, the Hindu caste system made the least impact on the Limbu. In part, this reflected not only their geographical distance from the seat of power in the capital city of Kathmandu but also their cultural independence.

[edit] Famous Limbu people

King Sirijonga Hang (880-915 AD ) - Ninth century Kirant Limbu King, who unified the warring Limbu states and the inventor of the Kirant Sirijonga Script.

Teongsi Sirijonga Xin Thebe (1704 - 1741 AD) - Eigthteenth century Limbu Martyer and social worker, Kirat script reviver and teacher.

Iman Singh Chemjong (1904-1975 AD) - Limbu Historian, Author, writer and Kirantologist at the Tribhuwan University, First Kirat historian.

Padam Singh Muringla - Limbu writer and writer of the first Limbu Novel "Thathama"

Phalgunanda Lingden- A renowned Limbu religious and social leader.

Bairagi Kainla ( Til Bikram Nembang ) - Writer in Nepalese literature.

Captain Rambahadur Limbu Begha – Victoria Cross Holder, Her Majesty's Armed Forces, United Kingdom.

Gyan Bahadur Yakthumba- First Inspector General of the Nepalese Police force.

Subash Chandra Nembang- Lawyer, Current Speaker of the House of Representatives, CPN(UML) politician and leader, and the member of the Nepalese Parliament.

Jina Lingden - First Limbu woman Air Pilot, Yeti Airlines

Captain Kul Bahadur Hukpa Chongbang Limbu – Pilot Captain, Nepal Airlines Corporation

Deepak Thangden – Assistant Inspector General of Nepal Police

Fattya Bahadur Manyangbo - Lt General (3 star General), Nepal Army

Padmasunder Lawati – Politician and Leader of Rastrya Prajatantra Party, ex-Minister

Parsuram Khapung – Politician and Leader of Rsatrya Prajatantra Party, ex-Minister

Bijay Thumbahamphe – Leader of CPM(UML) and Parliamentarian

Lila Subba Shrestha – Former member of Parliament & Deputy Speaker of the house of representatives.

Gagendra Limbu – Brigadier General, Nepal Army and Former Chief of Military Secratariat at the Royal Palace.

Gyan Bahadur Limbu – Major (QGO) Queen's Gurkha Logistic Regiment. Her Majesty's Armed Forces, United Kingdom.

Chandra Bahadur Limbu – Ex. Major (QGO) Queen's Gurkha Engineer. Her Majesty's Armed Forces, United Kingdom.

Narendra Bikram Nembang- Nepali Congress Politician Lawyer and current Minister for Law Justice and Parliamentary affiars.

Durga Lingkha - CPN (UML) Politician and the Member of Nepalese Parliament.

Vijay Subba - Poet and CPN (UML) Politician and the Member of Nepalese Parliament.

Mani Kumar Subba - A Limbu Indian MP from Assam, Politician and the member of Indian Parliament

Rakam Chemjong – Politician and the member of Nepalese Parliament

Sanccha Man Limbu- Former Chief Minister of the State of Sikkim and the member of Sikkimese Parliament.

Prof. Dr. Tanka Subba - Anthropologist scholar, Shillong University, Meghalaya

Dr. Mahendra Lawoti - Assistant Professor of the University of Pittsburgh, USA.

Kala wati Subba - former speaker, Sikkim assembly

Lalit bahadur Limbu - Acting chief of Akhtiyar Durupayog, Nepal Government

Prof. BAL Krishna mabohang - Trivuwan University

Dr. Youbaraj Limbu - Cardiologist at the Gangalal Heart Indstitute Hospital, Kathmandu

Dr. Chaitannya subba Limbu

Randhir Subba - former cabinet minister & Ambassador to china. He has been the only Indigenous person to be Foreign minister.

Bal Krishna mabohang – Assistant professor

Sunita Subba – Singer

Pabitra Subba – Singer

Dibya Subba – Nepalese Pop Singer

Nabin Subba – Film Director

Deepak Limbu – Singer

Malvika Subba – Top Model and Miss Nepal 2004

Nirakar Kaythumba (Limbu) – Founder & Bass Guitarist of 1974 AD band.

Abhaya Subbha – First Nepali Female Rock singer

Nawa Raj Subba, Poet- Winner of First Online World webcam Poem Competition, 2064.(www.nrsubba.com.np).

[edit] See also

[edit] References