The Rai Tribe

 

THE RAIby NE Travel Expert 

Origin

The meaning of Rai “King”. Also known as The Khambu Rais or Kirat are one of the most ancient indigenous ethnolinguistic groups spread from Nepal to the Northeastern Indian State of Sikkim and Darjeeling Hills. The title of Rai instead khambu kirant people who used to live in wallo kirant and majh kirant for particular reason of Nepal.  
The Rais of Sikkim & Darjeeling Hills are distributed mainly in all four district mainly East & South Sikkim, Algarh, Songche and Lava in the district of Darjeeling and in the adjoining district of Jalpaiguri of West Bengal. They inhabit in the hilly terrain region with cold climate and medium to heavy rainfall during rainy season. Rais are nature worshippers. They believe in spirits or ancestors who lived in nature and natural surroundings and may be benevolent or malevolent for their life and livelihood. Their healing system rests on traditional knowledge of identification of disease and the process of cure and indigenous medicine through their traditional priests.

History

Nepal is a very ancient country, which was ruled by many dynasties in the past. Among them, the Kirat rule is taken as a very vital one, being the longest period that extended from pre‐historic to historic period. In ancient Hindu scriptures. History also says Nepal is once referred as the ʺKirat Deshʺ or ʺthe Land of Kiratsʺ who were traces their migration from Tibet.
Kirat king ʺPatukaʺ had changed Shankhamul into a beautiful town. However, with times the last King of the Kirat dynasty seems to be no strong enough to rule the Sombanshi and was overthrown by the ruler name Nimisha. Hence, it brought to the end of the powerful Kirat dynasty that had lasted for about 1225 years. After their defeat, Kirats moved to the eastern hills of Nepal and settled down divided into small principalities. So they moved into the north eastern part of India.

Culture & Lifestyle

The Rai people begun to live in villages on the stiff hill slopes of Sikkim & Darjeeling Himalayas. A typical Rai house is built with wooden planks/logs, half walled and having open space in the front. Each Rai house is having a small room in one corner where Samkhalung, the sacred structure made of three erected stones (Tin Chula Dhunga) for the purpose of performing all the sacred family rites, is kept. No one other than family members would be allowed to enter into that sacred and secret place. It is believed that the souls of their ancestor’s dwell in this place. Of the three stones one represents their male ancestor; one female ancestor and the third one represents the society. Similar kind of structure with three stones is also used as hearth for daily cooking.

Caste, Sub Caste & Marriage Traditions

Rai have distinct cultural tradition. The community is divided into 28 Thar. Within the Thar there are clan division called Pacha. Clans are exogamous. There is further classification within the Pacha known as Samet. Samet traces the relationship of a person to his/her ancestor. Community endogamy is practiced. 
Marriage is settled through negotiation (dotma khatma), or elopement (khama, khatma). In case of negotiation all arrangement is done mutually and negotiation is facilitated by Kongpi, the mediator. In case of elopement the boy and girl after some period of courtship decide to start a conjugal live. Elopement is usually arranged by groom’s family.

Religion & Festival

The Rais are nature worshipers. Their traditional priest/ practitioner is known as Mangpa (male) and Mangma (female). They worship nature and natural phenomena such as rocks, mountain, river, stream, thunder and lighting, tree, and ascribe all of them as having a soul. They respect their natural surrounding but do not ascribe souls to them. They believe that these are the places where the spirits dwell.
The Rais also worship their ancestors. It is believed that their ancestors reside in the ‘three‐stoned hearth’ (i.e. tin chula dhunga in their term) in Samkhalung. 
Sakewa: It is one of the most important festival for Kirat Khambu in the name of mother Earth which happens every once in a year. This tradition is to offer reverence to nature gods, praying for the wellbeing of all living beings of earth with normal Bhumi puja rituals followed by their community folk songs and dance.

Costumes And Attire

The Rai women wear Tangfey or Fariya, Loklak or Choli, Tangrima, a kind of scarf put on just above the forehead and Phopma (sawl). They wear precious ornaments like Nathen, Nabit on nose made of Gold, Natip on the ear, Paruwa, Wai and Sayamnat round the neck and brace, Waichuk on hand, Langkungma on feet which are made of Gold. Paruwa is made of silver. Sayamsang or Pagari is an important head dress of the Kirat Rai Community especially on the occasion of great festivity, which is arrayed on the head like crown. 
The Rai Males wear langsup (Suruwal), lakyum (Daura), Phenga (waist Coat) etc. They use Talek (bow), Bhey (arrow), Bichan (sword), Wangcheng (seal), Dabi, Komwitcha etc. as their traditional weapons.

Food Habit

The Rais claim themselves as traditional hunters and gatherers. In their religious practices the presence of bow and arrow is a must. They eat meat, egg, chicken, pork, fish, vegetables, and edible roots, tubers, yam, mushroom collected from the surrounding forests. Intoxicating homemade liquor made out of finger millet, maize, wheat or burley. They also offer the drinks to the ancestors and deities during worship. Millet juice (Channwa Jaanr) is a favorite drink for all ages.