Changing marriage practices in the limbu community of gairi gaun, Soyak vdc,Ilam

Abstract

Nepal, inhabited by over 60 different indigenous tribes, is a multi ethnic, multi cultural and multi-lingual country. These tribes have their own cultures, which look not only interesting but unique in many senses to the world outside the tribes. Certain indigenous groups are dominant in number in the particular areas of the country. The Sherpas live in the high mountains, the Magars in the western hills, the Rais and Limbus in the eastern hills, the Tharus in most part of the Terai, the Dhimal and Santhals (Satar) in the eastern Terai, the Tamangs in the mid hills and so on. They have their own cultures which have undergone several changes with the changing of times. Among these indigenous groups, the Kiratas, one of the ancient tribes of Nepal, have been living in the eastern hills of Nepal, and in Sikkim, India, for centuries. Even the Vedic literatures make mention of the Kiratas. They have been living in Nepal long before the Vedic period when the Aryans arrived in the Indian sub continent. They were even in the helm of power in Nepal in the ancient period. These Kirata people, who fall under the Mongoloid race, are now divided into a number of ethnic groups with Rais and Limbus being the majors. Today Limbus live in the mountains east to the Koshi River and up to Sikkim in India. According to the latest political map of modern Nepal, Limbus live in districts like Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Dhankuta, Bhojpur, Terhathum and Shankhuwasabha. Over the years, cultures of the Limbus have witnessed changes. Penetration of information technology, education and growing influence of the western cultures have led to the change. The present study is focused on the changing trend of marriage practices and the agents of such a change in the Limbu community of Gairi Gaun of Soyak Village Development Committee Ward No. 2 of Ilam district. The main objective of the study it to identify the changes in the marriage practices in the Limbus and he major factors leading and contributing to the changes. All 24 households of the Fagos of Gairi Gaun were taken as samples. Interview, observation and case study method are applied in the process of field work. The major findings of this study is the marriage practices among the Limbu of Gairi Gaun have undergone a change over the years.