Nationalist Cultural Influence on Limbu Culture: A Study of Limbu's Death Rite, Khauma

Abstract

This thesis explores the influences of nationalist culture on the performance of Limbu death rite, Khauma. The performance of the death rite Khauma in Limbu community has got the gradual influence of nationalist culture. The death rite Khauma is performed by Phedangma enchanting Mundhum orally and meat, alcohol, head of he goat and buffalo, salt, ginger, garlic and other things are prepared for the dead person. But in some place of Limbu community, the priest (sewa sawa) reads the written text Mundhum and sel rottee (bread), beaten rice and vegetarian things are prepared for dead person. Like in Hindu community, the priest reads the written text Ved and sel rottee, beaten rice and vegetarian things are prepared for deceased person, the Limbus observe pollution period four days and three days for male and female respectively but in Hindu community they observe the pollution period for thirteen days as well as complete all funeral performance within thirteen days. Nowadays, in Limbu community, they also perform all death ceremonial performance within ninth or eleventh days as Hindu's funeral performance.