For centuries, they practice Hinduism, features of the Caucasus, and Indo-Aryan languages are spoken. They are located mainly in the lower hills and river valleys and the Terai. Tibetan-Nepalese are typical characteristics of Mongolian and Tibetan-Burmese speaking, these groups take up more hills and mountainous areas. Several groups in this category, practice Buddhism, Hinduism or animism. It is indigenous tribes of Nepal, whose origin is probably the first to enter the Indo-Tibetan and Nepalese people.
Sherpa
The most famous among the Himalayan people are the Sherpas because of their impeccable skills of mountain, which made it an indispensable part of mountain expeditions as leaders, guides and porters. As individuals or in groups, they have set records of many “firsts” in the world of mountaineering. They live in the Khumbu region of Nepal is located in the vicinity of Mt. Everest, along the Arun Valley, the Dudh Koshi and its watershed.
Fraternal polyandry among the Sherpas, who are two brothers may marry a common wife. However, if there are three brothers in a Sherpa family, the middle brother has to serve the monastery as a monk and a family of four brothers, the group of two may marry two ordinary women.
Sherpas observe a number of festivals throughout the year. The key is Losar and dumze. Losar is the celebration of New Year, according to the Tibetan calendar. Sometimes at the end of February. The song, dance, the party is happy for all families. Dumze is interesting festival observed in Gomba the village “or a monastery for seven days, sometimes during the month of July. The village lamas conducting rituals in the worship of Guru Rimpoche, Phaw Cheresi, Tsanba and other gods.
There are many Sherpas who have an established track record of mountaineering in the world. Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund Hillary was the first to climb the highest mountain in the world in 1953.
Gurung
In the hills and valleys of the environment on the southern slopes of the Himalayas Annapurna in mid-western Nepal, Gurung live with other ethnic groups such as the Magar, Brahmin and Chettri. These sturdy, hardworking people are Mongoloid physionomically. They are expanding their living space of Gorkha in the east through Lamjung, Manang and Kaski district Syangja.
The Gurung is very colorful, happy and flirtatious people. A caste hierarchy divides the Gurung community into ‘char JIT and outgoing “JAF, group of four and sixteen clans respectively. These are distinctly endogamous groups. Traditionally, they prefer cross-cousin marriage. Parallel cousins marriage is strictly prohibited.
They also have a tradition of ‘Rodi’, a club for boys and girls the same age group where dancing and singing is done. This institution offers opportunities themample know, understand and develop love and affection. Environment in the Rodi is very affectionate.
The Gurungs are very interesting dance tradition. Sorath made, Ghada, Ghatu and others in one or more. The dance season usually starts on Shri Panchami day (On the fifth day of bright lunar fortnight some day in January or February) Chandi Purnima day (one day in May or April).
Thakali
Physionomically Mongoloid featured ‘Thakali is believed to have originated from Thak Khola, the valley of the Kali Gandaki river in western Nepal. These people are famous for its cuisine and perfectly maintained their subsistence hotels, hostels, restaurants and income. They are found mainly in Annapurana circular route, one of the most famous streets in the country walk.
Thak Khola in the district of Mustang, Nepal, Dhaulagiri area. Thak-sat-is a traditional area of the Thakali community, which is located in the commercial area of the salt in the south of the coating Tukuche.
A must Thakali, Thakali marry is none other than, but the marriage must be outside their own clan. In all four are equal in status or ritual. However, based on precedents in the sect, clan Gauchan comes first, followed by Tulach, Sherchan and Bhattachan. They have their gods as a dragon clan representing animals, elephant, lion and yak for Gauchan, Tulach, Sherchan and Bhattachan respectively.
The religion of the Thakali is a mixture of Buddhism, Jhankrism, Bonpo and Hinduism, but they are almost Jhankrism, a kind of shamanistic worship as their religion of origin.
Tamang
The Tamang live mainly in the high hills to the east, north, south and west of the Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal. They speak Tibeto-Burmese ethnic group make their living primarily as porters for the traders and trekking expeditions.
Tamang community is divided into several exogamous clans. Tamang can marry another, except for his clan. Cross-cousin marriage is better.
The Tamang are Buddhists. Religious activities are based on Jhankrism. There are several ghyangs (Buddhist temples) in each facility Tamang / All festivals and ceremonies celebrated in the Buddhist way. The first day of Magh (one day in January and February), celebrates the Chho these ghyangs.
A second celebration ceremony, Nara observe the full moon days. Overall Tamang represent a community greatly exploited and poor in general.
Rai and Limbu
The Rais are hills in the north-east of Nepal, mainly near Dhankuta, Terhathum, Bhojpur and Arun and Dudh valleys. Similarly, the Limbus comes from the far east of Nepal, mainly in the region of Taplejung, Khotang and the Arun Valley.
The Rais are neither purely Hindu or Buddhist. They have their own gods and beliefs. Tibetan Lamaism has a great influence in their rites and rituals. The Limbuš follows a mixture of Saivism, Buddhism and animism. The Rais and Limbus are 4.4% of the total population.
Among the Rais, marriages are monogamous. Weddings are held by the organization, acquisition and joints. Limbus follow the tradition of marriage. Both the Rais and Limbus bury the dead and placed a headstone on the grave, where the name and date.
Tharu
The Tharu indigenous ethnic group living in the northern part of Terai and inner Terai with a population concentrated in the center and west. Representing some 6.4% of the total population.
Most of the Tharu have Mongoloid features with dark colors and semi-darkness. They are aboriginal Terai settlers. Some also believe that Tharu came to Nepal from India during the Muslim invasion in the 12th and 13th century.
Tharus are the indigenous dialect, known as “Naja. But they speak a mixture of local dialects, as Prakriti, Bhojpuri, Mughal, Nepali, Urdu and Maithili.
Tharus believe in animism. They also celebrate the Hindu festival. There are usually two clans, Pradhan and Apradhan. The former is considered superior. Every country has its own premises to protect the people.
The Tharu marriages are monogamous. It is, however, strictly endogamous. Polyandry and polygamy is practiced at times. Rites and rituals associated with Tharu marriages are elaborate and complex.
Chhettri and Thakuri
In the caste hierarchy, they come second Thakuris Chhetri and Brahmin. They are sovereign, the chiefs and warriors. The Brahmins are the teachers and priests of the family. As Brahmins are the orthodox Hindus. Thakuris believed to have originally come from the northern part of India mainly from Rajasthan. They could have migrated to Nepal in the 12th and 13th century.
Chhetri in Nepal are among the classes Thakuris most influential and well-to-do society. They are mostly in the public services of senior positions in the army and police. Some of them were farmers and are relatively poor and live like any other ethnic group.
Brahman
Caste Brahmins are members of the Supreme social caste. Two different Brahmans lived. “Kumai Brahmans ‘and’ Purbiya Brahmans ‘are present. They differ only derived from their country of origin.” Kumai Brahmans’ are presumed to come from Kumaon mountains in the north west of India in Nepal. They are mainly confined to the western and middle sections of the capital Kathmandu, Nepal. “Purbiya” Brahmins from eastern Nepal and are scattered throughout the country a higher concentration of the eastern part of Nepal and Kathmandu.
The Brahmans are priestly caste. The priests in all Hindu temples are exclusively Brahmans.
Newar
The people of Kathmandu, the Newars, are mainly traders. In order to trade, they are scattered across the country, with greater concentration in the Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dhuiikhel, Bhojpur, Bandipur and Tansen. In Kathmandu valley, they are 44% of the total population. Nationally, they are about 5.6% of the total population. Despite the low percentage numerically, they contribute significantly to the history, art, architecture and business in the country.
Newars speak their own language, ‘Newari’ better known as Nepal Bhasa, which belongs to the Tibeto-Burman languages. He has his own scripts and has no linguistic link Nepali, Hindi or Sanskrit. Newari script, the “LIPI Ranjana is exceptional. Newari literature is also very rich.
There are both Buddhist and Hindu Newars. As elsewhere in the country, religious syncretism is blended with the culture and tradition. They celebrate many festivals and celebrations of the year. In addition to their rich heritage, festivals Newars are impeccable artists and architects.
To put it in a nutshell, the Newars, but in small numbers, have a very strong and dominant influence on Nepal’s economy, politics and society in general.
Chepang and Kusunda
These ethnic Societies belong to a traditional defined territory in the south of Dhading, west of Makawanpur and east of Chitwan along the steep slopes of the Mahabharat range in the middle of Nepal. Very few of these hunting tribes began under subsistence agriculture; Otherwise hunting, gathering wood, etc. were primarily for subsistence living. But they are economically backward, they have a rich cultural tradition unique. With the increasing encroachment of the forest (their main living source) for itself and other communities, and lately people have started working on development projects in areas such as hard work.
They observe all Hindu festivals of Dashain, Tihar and also Sakranti, Nwagi their own tribal festival, which takes place on Tuesday during the third week of Bhadra (August 1 and September).
Magar
Along the Gurung and Khas counterparts, Magar forms an integral part of British India and Gurkha regiments and the Nepal Army. Are about 7.2% of the total population. They speak a dialect group Tibet-Burman languages. Their religion is Buddhism. However, there are also Hindu Magar.
Magars celebrate the festival dedicated to the goddess Kali and great glory (Hindu festival). In particular, Gorkha, sacrifice a lot of goats during the occasion. Those who live near the Brahmins and Chhetris cultural rituals are responsible for them. Magar villages are characterized by their round and oval houses. One is many of these settlements Magar round Annapurna trekking.
Managi
Manangi are similar to physionomically and religious Tibetans, but they are proud of belonging to believe Gurung, who lives in the hills and valleys below. These people live in Pleasant Valley to Manang in the upper northern Marsyangdi River of central Nepal. Manang district encloses three distinct areas Neshyang, Nar and Gyasumdo, all those culturally linked. They have agriculture as their primary use of subsistence living. The cold and harsh climate limits the cultivation to reverse wheat, barley, wheat, corn, potatoes and radishes. They also breed sheep and other Cattie.
Losar, the New Year celebration is the main festival, the month of February. Similarly, archery is arranged to queue for the month of April and May
Dolpali
Dolpo Dolpo-pa, or the settlements are concentrated in a remote, fascinating, which is bounded by Dhaulagiri Himalayas to the south and east, and Sisno Kanjiroba mountains to the west and Tibet to the north. They usually resolve an altitude of 3,660 m (approximately 12000 m) and 4070 m (14000 feet approx.) They are probably the largest settlements in the world. These people recommended mongoloid it comes to Tibet. Most of them are illiterate, but they are not too bad. Marriages are very relaxed in general. Before marriage and unions outside of marriage sex is not compromised. All the brothers of the family ‘to marry a common wife. Weddings can be anywhere, on demand, to imprison or jailbreak.
Dolpa people are Buddhists, but the Bon sect of Buddhism has also co-exist. They have different ways of death. Some throw the body into the river while others cut the meat into pieces and fed to vultures.
