Sunuwar people

कोइँच (सुनुवार)
Sunuwar
Kirati Sunuwar
Total population
Approximately 100,000 (2012 estimate)
Languages
Sunuwar, Nepali
Religion

Predominantly Kiranti, Buddhism

A greeting in Sunuwar
Sunuwar Udhauli at Nakhipot, Lalitpur, Nepal 6 Dec. 2014
Selected ethnic groups of Nepal: Kiranti; Sunuwar;Limbu; Rai; Yakha; Sunuwar

The Sunuwar (Nepali: सुनुवार जाति Sunuwār Jāti) is an indigenous tribe from Nepal and some areas of India. They speak the Sunuwar language. According to the 2001 census of Nepal, 17% of the tribe follow the Kirant religion and adopt the Mundhum (Kiranti) culture.[1]

The Kiranti-Kõinchs number 96,254. The term ‘Kõinchs’ is also the name of the mother tongue. Other terms like Mukhiya or Mukhia are exonyms of the tribe. Sunuwar have their distinct language, religion, culture and social customs.[2]
They inhabit the eastern hills of Nepal and Himalayan Indina. They are concentrated along the Molung Khola, Likhu Khola and Khimti Khola (‘Khola’ Indo-Aryan Nepali etymon ‘rivulet’) regions. By administrative division, they dwell in Okhaldhunga, Ramechhap and Dolakha districts of Nepal, politically known as Wallo (‘Near/Hither’), Kirant (in the past and also in use among the Kirantis at present) after the fall of the Kirant dynasty (ruling for about 1903 years and 8 months) at the ancient Nepal valley. Wallo Kirant in the past was their Kipat or communal land. Their migration (mainly to the east) later took place in several parts of the country in Jhapa, Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Terathum, Sunsari, Sindhuli, Kathmandu and other districts and abroad to places such as Darjeeling, Assam, Sikkim, Japan, Bhutan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada.

Lifestyle

Most Sunuwar practice agriculture (approximately 55%.) They do so throughout the eastern hills of present-day Nepal. Crop cultivation and cattle farming (Rice, Millet, Wheat, Soybean, Potato, and Corn) are the main agricultural works. Sunuwar people also took part in the Second World War and were known as brave Gorkhali fighters, as well as honest. Some Sunuwar still join the Nepal Army, Indian Army, Singapore Police Force and British Gurkha Army. Due to limited opportunities within the nation, people with education go abroad for work. Attractive salaries and facilities in other countries motivate these people to seek jobs abroad. Only few Sunuwar people are involved in the government service and private sectors in Nepal.

Traditional cultures

lunar months

Sunuwar are very rich in culture and traditions. They have hundreds of traditional feasts and festivals with complex rituals and rules. Every traditional feast or festival has its own objectives, characteristics, and system of celebration. Some festivals, such as Chandi Dance in (Baisakh Purnima), Sakela (Shyadar-Pidar), Gil puja (Gil-Pidar), and Meserani puja (Meserani-Pidar), are considered more important than others. They celebrate the Shyadar-pidar festival on the Day of Buddha Purnima, or after 5 days of Buddha Purnima(Panchami) according to the Nepali calendar. Sunuwar New year is celebrated on the day of Basanta Panchami. As a community, they celebrate Meserani Pidar twice a year, based on the Lunar Calendar.

Sunuwar Song (Koich Kumsho)

Sunuwari Song: Reuhita Ragimshumshaa
(Raining)

Kirant Kings

The 29 Kirat kings were as follows:

  1. Yalamber 2. Pavi 3. Skandhar 4. Balamba 5. Hriti 6. Humati 7. Jitedasti 8. Galinja 9. Pushka 10. Suyarma 11. Papa 12. Bunka 13. Swananda 14. Sthunko 15. Jinghri 16. Nane 17. Luka 18. Thor 19. Thoko 20 Verma 21. Guja 22. Pushkar 23. Keshu 24. Suja 25. Sansa 26. Gunam 27. Khimbu 28. Patuka 29. Gasti

See also

Place of Sunuwari (Koichi) Language

References

[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]

  1. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
  2. ↑ "A Grammar of Sunwar". Dörte Borchers. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Central Bureau of Statistics". Cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Sunuwar.org". Sunuwar.org. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  5. ↑ Archived 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Sunuwar Samaj Hong Kong". Sunuwarsamajhk.org. 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  7. ↑ Archived 2013-09-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ Archived 2013-09-08 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Sunuwar Dress - Home". Facebook. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  10. ↑ "Sunuwar: Sunuwar". Sunuwardurga.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
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