Kirati tribes

The Kirāta, Kiranti or Kirati is a generic term in Sanskrit literature for people who lived in the mountains, particularly in the Himalayas , North-East India and who are postulated to have been Mongoloid in origin. Rai and Limbu are the major tribes of Kirati community.

Religion

The Kiratis are mostly Nature worshipper. Major groups of Kirati community follows Buddhism and Kirant Mundhum. Kirant Mundhum or Kiratism is the religion of Himalayan Kiratis of Nepal. Bodo-Kachari tribal ethnic groups follows the Bathouism religion. Some clans also have adopted Hinduism religion.

Groups

There are 4 different groups of Kirati tribes, including Himalayan Kiratis, Tibetan-Himalayan, Khas-Kiratis and the Kacharis of South Asian region. Their populations are such largest comparing to any other ethnic groups of South Asia.

Himalayan

  1. Rai
  2. Limbu
  3. Sunuwar
  4. Newar
  5. Dewan
  6. Bahing
  7. Kulung
  8. Parali

Tibetan-Himalayan

  1. Bhutia
  2. Lepcha

Khas-Kiratis

  1. Monpa
  2. Drukpa

Bodo-Kirati or Kachari

Based on an 1881 census, there were 19 groups within the Kachari classification:
  1. Bodo
  2. Dimasa
  3. Dhimal
  4. Garo
  5. Hajong
  6. Koch
  7. Lalung (Tiwa)
  8. Madahi
  9. Mahalia
  10. Mech
  11. Moran
  12. Phulgaria
  13. Sutiya
  14. Rabha
  15. Sonowal
  16. Saraniya
  17. Solaimiya
  18. Thengal
  19. Tiprasa

References