Limbu People (Kirati)
Limbus are the descendents of Tibetan migrants who came to Nepal centuries ago. Today they comprise less than 2% of the population but possess a culturally rich heritage. They are also known as Kirats, meaning “bearers of bows and arrows,” and are ethnic cousins to Rai people, who share many of their traditions. Limbus speak a distinct language that is a written mixture of Devenagri and Tibetan alphabets. Religiously, they follow the “Kirat Mundhum,” a Bon oral scripture that was later influenced by Buddhism and is unique to their ethnic identity. Like the name “Kirat” name suggests, they are master archers and will often hold large competitions during festivals. They also have a unique practice of marriage, where a boy will capture and hold a girl in his house for three days, after such a time she is free to choose whether to marry the boy or return home.
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