In India different type of people from different tribe and communities can be seen. And each community has its own caste and culture. Among this one group of people are Nepalese. Nepalese society was ethnically diverse in caste and in culture. In Nepali community we can find different castes like Bahuns, Chettri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Mukhia, Rai, Limbu, Tamangs, Lepchas, Sarki, etc. Each caste has its own culture, by which it can be recognized. In Hills we can see that town people are mainly engaged in business, while the rural people are concerned with their agriculture. Now a day Bihari, Marwari and Bengali people with high percentage can be seen in Hills. These people are mostly engaged in business.
NEWARS
The place of origin of the Newars is the Kathmandu Valley. These people are mainly businessman and merchants. Only few people are engaged in agriculture. Newars speak their own language Known as ‘ Newari which belongs to Tibeto – Burman family of languages. It has its own scripts and has no linguistic connection to Nepali, Hindi or Sanskrit. The Newars have their own script, which is written in ‘Devanagiri’ script style. They mainly follow Hinduism and Buddhism They celebrate numerous feasts and festivals throughout the year. One of the most important ancient traditions among Newars community is the marriage of their daughter at the age of 7-8 years with a fruit “Bel”. This marriage is known as ‘Ihi’ or ‘Bel Biha’. The tree and the fruit symbolize a deity called ‘Hiranya Garbha’. And the marriage with ‘Hiranya Garbha’ is considered to be everlasting. The importance of this marriage is that if the husband of a Newari girl dies, she will not be termed a widow, since her first husband Bel is still present. Another culture followed by the Newars is the Maha Puja, or the worship of our body, which is celebrated on the day following Lakshmi Puja.
SHERPAS
The places of origin of Sherpas are the eastern and central Nepal, mainly around Solo and Khumbu in the vicinity of Mount Everest. This people are very hard working and skillful. The mountaineering skill in this people is awesome. They have set many records in the field of mountaineering. Tenzing Norgay Sherpa was the first to climb the highest mountain Mt. Everest in 1953. And Rita Sherpa, nicknamed ‘ the snow leopard’ climbed the highest mountains for the 10th time in 1996, Sherpa people are mainly Buddhist and are engaged in agriculture animal husbandry, trade and mountaineering.
Khadev and Khamedu are the two distinct caste found in Sherpas society. Fraternal polyandry is found among the Sherpas, that is two brothers may marry one common wife. However, if there are three brothers in a Sherpa family, the middle brother has to serve the monastery as a monk. Sherpa people celebrate numerous feasts and festivals throughout the year. The important being the Losar and the Dumze. They celebrate these festivals by singing, dancing, feasting where all the family members are involved. Losar is celebrated during the month of February while Dumze during the month of July. Losar is the New Year celebration. Dumze is the worshipping of Guru Rimpoche. They conduct this ritual in Gomba (monastery).
LEPCHAS
The place of origin of Lepchas is Sikkim. This people are mainly engaged in agriculture. Their script is very much similar to Mongol script. Lepcha society is rich in folk songs and stories. Most common songs are ‘Muten-Chi’, ‘Dambrajo’, ‘. Pyasu Lohma Lolima’, ‘Thala Thap Suki Thap’, ‘ Phenlyok’ etc… Lepcha people celebrate numerous feasts and festivals throughout the year. The important one being ‘Nam Bun’, ‘Kum-Chum-Jhong-Bu’,’ Sakyu’. Nam bun is the New Year celebration. During Kum-Chum-Jhong-Bu water is offered to Mount Kanchenjunga because they believe that first man and woman on Earth appeared from Mt. Kanchenjunga. This festival is celebrated during the month of March and April. Sakyu is celebrated in the month of November to worship the divine powers, with the new crops, with the belief that their agricultural products may increase in future.
TAMANGS
The place of the origin of Tamangs are the south and west of Katmandu Valley in the central part of Nepal. Tamangs belongs to Tibeto – Burman style of living. They are mainly Buddhists and their festivals are celebrated in Buddhist fashion. Agriculture is their main occupation. Tamangs are very skillful in making woolen garments from sheep wool. And most of the Tibetan items, such as the Tibetan carpets and Thangka paintings found in the tourist areas are made by them. They celebrate many feasts and festival. The religious play Chhechu is very traditional. During the month of January and February they celebrate Chho.
GURUNGS
The Gurungs are Tibeto-Burmese people who live in the central midlands in the middle hills and valleys along the southern slope of the Annapurna. They are mainly engaged in agriculture and are very hard working. Many of them are Gorkha soldiers. Traditionally they prefer cross- cousins marriage.
BAHUN & CHETTRIES
Bahuns the Brahmin (priests) and Chettris the Kshatriya (warriors) are the members of the highest social caste. They are the followers of Hinduism. They are the speaker of Nepali language. This people are very orthodox. They bear a very complex rituals and marriage. Their rites and rituals are mentioned in the Vedas, Purans and other scriptures. Cross- cousin marriages are strictly prohibited and one must marry within its caste. This people are very restricted to eat meat or to drink alcohol. The body of deceased is always cremated. Women are not allowed to attend the cremation. The son of the deceased lights the pyre.
LIMBU
The place of origin of this people is the extreme east of Nepal mainly the region of Taplejung, Khotang and Arun Valley. They are mainly farmers. Among the Limbus, marriages are monogamous. They mainly prefer arrange marriages. Limbus buries the deceased and place a tombstone on the grave, bearing the name and date. Their folk-literature is very rich and common Limbus singing folk songs are. Khyali, Hakpare Samlo,. Nisammang Sewa Samlo etc… Dancing is one of the important aspects of the life of Limbus. They perform many dances like agricultural dance, historic dance and war dance etc…
RAI
North-eastern Nepal comprising Terhathum, Bhojpur and Arun and Dudh valleys are the places of inhabitants for this people. They are neither purely Hindu nor Buddhist. Their main occupation is agriculture. Among the Rais, marriages are monogamous and the marriages are held by arrangements. Rais bury the deceased and place a tombstone on the grave, bearing the name and date as like the Limbus.
MAGARS
The Magars are a Tibeto-Burmese people who came from Palpa, Syaugja and Tanhu areas of Nepal. This people are mainly farmers and soldiers. They follow Buddhism and Hinduism. Magars are traditionally Hindu and they worship Goddess kali. An interesting tradition in Magars society is that When a Magars boy becomes five years old, his maternal uncle shaves off his hair. Similarly, when a Magar girl reaches five years, she is given Ghagar (skirt).
