Rai (ethnic group)
From Freepedia
The Rai, also known as the Khambu, are one of Nepal’s most ancient indigenous ethnolinguistic groups. The Rai belong to the Kiranti group or Kirat confederation that includes the Limbu and Sunuwar ethnic groups.
The traditional homeland of the Rai extends across Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga (the Bahing subgroup), Khotang, Bhojpur and Udayapur Districts in the northeastern mountains of Nepal, west of the Arun River, in the Sun Kosi River watershed. Rais are also found in small numbers in the Indian state of Sikkim and the northern West Bengal towns of Kalimpong and Darjeeling.
According to Nepal’s 2001 census, there are 636,151 ethnic Rai in Nepal, representing 2.79% of the total population. The Rai are divided into many different clan groups, including the Bantawa, Chamling, Sampang, Dumi, Jerung, Kulung, Khaling, Lohorung, Mewahang, Thulung, Tilung, Wambule, Yakkha, and Yamphu. Some clans number only a few hundred members. The languages and traditional religion of the Rai are known as Kiranti.
More than 30 different Kiranti languages and dialects are recognized within the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The oral language is rich and ancient, as is Kiranti history, but there is no distinct written script.
The traditional Kiranti religion, apparently predating Hinduism and Buddhism, is based on ancestor-worship and the placation of ancestor spirits through elaborate rituals governed by rules called Mundum. Sumnima and Parohang are worshipped as primordial parents. Sikatakhu Budo, Walmo Budi, and Jalpa Devi, among others, serve as Kiranti deities. Most Rai practice a form of syncretic Mundum that combines elements of Hinduism and Lamaism with both Hindu and Buddhist practices and major festivals. A major Rai holiday is the harvest festival, Nwogi, when fresh harvested foods are shared by all. The pujhari or priest plays an important role in Rai communities.
Because of the fiercely independent nature of the Rai community and its location at the eastern end of the consolidating Nepali nation-state, the Rai were given exceptional rights of kipat autonomy and land ownership in their homeland of Majh (middle) Kirant.
Subsistence agriculture of rice, millet, wheat, corn and even cotton is the main occupation of the Rai although many Rai have been recruited into military service with the Nepali army and police, and the Indian and British Gurkha regiments.
Rai women decorate themselves lavishly with silver and gold coin jewelry. Marriage unions are usually monogamous and arranged by parents, although bride capture and elopement are alternative methods. Music (traditional drums and string instruments; yele, dhol and jhyamta), dance (sakela - chandi dance) and distilled spirits (arakha), are central to Rai culture.
References
- Nepal Population Report 2002
- Rastriya Janajati Bikas Samiti
- Nepal Ethnographic Museum
- Kiranti Languages
- Bista, Dor Bahadur. (2004). People of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar.
- Rai/Limbu
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Rai Traditional Chandi Nach "SAKELA"
The nature worshipping Kirat have been able to protect their culture in the course of time, although there’ve been some influences.
Kirat are divided into (1)Rai, (3)Limbu, (4)Yakkha and (5)Sunuwar.
The settlement of the Rai Kirat along the Dudh Koshi and Arun rivers and their tributaries in the districts of Solukhumbu, Okhaldhunga, Khotang, Bhojpur, Udayapur, Dhankuta, Dharan (sunsari), Damak(Jhapa), Biratnagar(Morang) is called Manjh or middle Kirat. Pallo or far Kirat is Limbu dominated territory (Taplejung, Pach Thar, Thera Thum, Phidim upto Sikkim and Tibet etc). Range from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, Makawanpur upto Dudh Koshi and their tributaries are called Wallo or near Kirat where Sunuwar and other kirat sub-tribes used to ruled.
Old records indicate that Rai Kirat formerly occupied a much larger area than that they dominate today. A legal ratification affixed with the red seal during the reign of King Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah (1816-1847 BS) reads that parts of Solukhumbu district and its pasture land, presently inhabited by Sherpa, was inhabited by Rai Kirat.
The tenth convention of Kirat held two years ago resolved that the population of Rai Kirat is 635,000. They even have many more subcastes.
Rai Kirat is listed as an indigenous ethnic group. They make up three per cent of the 22 million Nepalis. Their culture, tradition and religious performances are based on the Kirat philosophy, which binds all Rai Kirat clans and sub-clans.
Kirat observe a number of religious ceremonies throughout the year. The harvest ceremony, praying the earth, called ‘Bhumi-Puja’, is observed in September and April. They perform hom, a sacrificial rite, to acquire merit. The festival is also known as Chandinach or Sakewa Sili or Sakewa.
Sakewa is divided into two phase: Udhauli (Going down) and Ubhauli (Going up). Rai celebrate Ubhauli in spring season for 15 days that starts on Baishakh Purnina. In the autumn season or on Mangsir Purnima, they celebrate Udhauli. But Ubhauli or Chandinach is celebrated importantly than Udhauli.
During April and May, rain starts and the earth gets virginity and fertility. Rai worship the earth in a belief that she would become happy and cropping would be envisaged.
The dance is also performed at Tundikhel, Tikhedewal, Jawalakhel, Hatiban on Buddha Jayanti and Mangsir Purnima in the Kathmandu Valley. But, the real flavour of the dance can only be seen in eastern hills. The Kirat there celebrate it with priests who perform rituals to worship their ancestors.
Everybody participate in the dance forming a circle by holding each other’s hands. With drumbeats, they begin dancing at a slow pace but moves faster later with the drumbeats. The festival provides an opportunity for Rai to know each other.
The celebration is connected to many myths. It is also said that before the marriage of god Paruhang and goddess Sumnima, Paruhang used to live in the heaven .One day, he saw beautiful Sumnima on the earth and fell in love. He made a beautiful comb, sent it to Sumnima who wished wed him.
Four children were born of them after marriage. But Paruhang left Sumnima in a hut on the bank of Dudhkoshi River and did not return for long time. One day, she saw a creeper on a stone while she was in search of food for her children. She tasted the creeper and it was full of power and happiness. She brought the creeper and made Buti, an intoxicating religious garland, and kept it safe. The Buti inspired everybody who saw it to tell the truth of her/his life. Paruhang returned suddenly. He tried to counsel angry Sumnima. She gave the Buti to Paruhang. This immediately made him glad and he started to tell what he had done. He had spent the time looking at the heaven and the earth from the top of Chomolongma (Mt. Everest ). He also said her that he had meditated, and visited the whole universe. Paruhang promised not to leave her, which made Sumnima dance with joy. It is believed the dance is the ‘Sakela dance’. Generally, there are male and female leaders during the dance known as ‘Silimangpa’ and ‘Silimangma’ respectively. They wear traditional dress. These two people act as the other dancers are imitating them.
Dr. Jean Robert, from Leiden University Netherlands, who has done Ph.D. on Wambule Rai language said, ‘I prefer Rai language and culture because I found their life peculiar than any others castes I have met in Nepal.’
