Socio-Cultural Study of Kamdung Bantawa Rai Community (A Case Study of Dewantar VDC, Bhojpur District, Nepal)

Abstract

Nepal is a land of multi-religious, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-castes or ethnic groups. Unity in diversities' is the main feature of Nepalese people. Among the various castes or ethnic groups, all Kirat Rais have been broadly subsumed together with several other Tibeto-Burman groups of eastern Nepal. The Kirat Rais are an ancient ethnic indigenous people of Nepal, who have their own unique socio-cultural norms and values. The socio-cultural patterns as well as languages are different with each other among all Rai clans and sub-clans communities. The Bantawa Rai is a famous clan of Kirat Rai. There is also much difference in socio-cultural patterns among every sub-clan of the Bantawa Rai. The Kamdung Bantawa Rai is a sub-clan of the Bantawa Rai. This study has been focused on the ethnographic and socio-cultural status of the Kamdung Bantawa Rai community. This study area of Dewantar VDC, Bhojpur district is the main settlement place of this Rai community. Agriculture is the main source for their livelihood. Education status is very low in this Rai community. They have their own socio-cultural norms and values and indigenous knowledges, which are different to other Bantawa Rais. The religion of this Rai community is 'Kirat Mundhum' and its main feature is to love to the natural resources and remember to own ancestors. They worship and protect the natural resources. But due to lack of infrastructure facilities and lack of awareness, they are facing various socio-cultural problems. So such type of problems should be solved properly and only then the door of socio-cultural prospects also would be open for development in this Rai community. Their unique cultures are most important for the ethnographical study and ethnic cultural tourism. The government of Nepal should make policy and strategy about it. It will provide a quality of life not only to the Kamdung Bantawa Rai community, but also to the entire communities of this area. Thus, it plays a vital role in sustainable rural development of this remote study area.