Kulung people

The Kulung are one of the indigenous communities of Nepal, as well as parts of northeastern Sikkim and Darjeeling district, having their own Kulung language, culture, history and tradition. The Kulung population in Nepal is estimated to be in the region of 150,000-200,000.

The ethno-linguistic region inhabited by the Kulungs is called the "Mahakulung" ("Greater Kulung") and is located in the Sagarmatha Zone.[1] It specifically refers to the Hongu valley, comprising Gudel, Chheskam, Bung and Sotang, as well as villages in the Sankhuwasawa District and the valleys of the Hongu, Sangkhuwa and Siswa rivers.[1] Presently Mahakulung is located in the Bung, Cheskam, Gudel and Sotang village development committees in the Solukhumbu District in the eastern part of Nepal. There are Kulung communities in 22 districts of Nepal. However, the major settlements are Solukhumbu, Sankhuwasabha, Bhojpur, Khotang, Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, Illam, Tehrathum and Kathmandu.

They are part of Kirat community, tracing their lineage from the Kirati ruler Khambu.[2] The early Kulung people migrated from the Tarai – the lowlands of Nepal and settled in the Hongu valley.[3]

The Kulung practise exogamous clan marriage.[3]

The Kulung community is one of the most marginalized ethnic groups in the country. As they reside in remote hilly areas, basic infrastructure and services, like drivable roads, electricity, clean drinking water, education, communication and health services are lacking.

The majority of Kulungs are dependent on traditional agriculture, cultivating millet and maize; they are also hunters and fishermen.[3] Due to unproductive land conditions, they are not able to produce adequate food from their farms. They are compelled to migrate in search of potering and agricultural work for their livelihood.

They practise traditional religion as well as Hinduism and Buddhism.[1] Unlike most Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal, the Kulung bury their dead instead of cremating them.[3]

List of sub-clans

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Kulung: A language of Nepal". Ethnologue.
  2. ↑ "History". Association of Nepal Kirat Kulung Language, Cultural Development (www.kulung.net.np). August 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "The Kulung: Language and Traditions". International Institute for Asian Studies.

External links