The Sunuwar or Koinch are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group. (Nepali:सुनुवार जाति|Sunuwār Jāti) a Kirati tribe native to Nepal, parts of India (West Bengal and Sikkim) and southern Bhutan. 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.[4]
सुनुवार, कोइँच | |
|---|---|
 Kirati Koinch Sunuwar | |
| Total population | |
 Nepal 78,910 (2021)[1] | |
 India | |
| Sikkim | 3,795(2006)[2] |
| Languages | |
| Sunuwar, Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Predominantly: Kiratism • Hinduism 92.29% • Christianity 7.23% (2011)[3] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
The Kõinch's (Sunuwar) number 82,705 in total.[5][6] 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.[7]
They inhabit the eastern hills of Nepal and Himalayan. 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 kirat (‘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.
Demographics
editThe Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Sunuwar as a subgroup within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[8] At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 55,712 people (0.2% of the population of Nepal) were Sunuwar. The frequency of Sunuwar by province was as follows:
- Bagmati Province (0.5%)
- Koshi Province (0.5%)
- Madhesh Province (0.1%)
- Gandaki Province (0.0%)
- Lumbini Province (0.0%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
- Karnali Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Sunuwar was higher than national average (0.2%) in the following districts:[9]
Lifestyle
editMost 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 maize) are the main agricultural works. Sunuwar people also took part in the Second World War and were known as Gorkhali fighters, as well as honest. Some Sunuwar still join the Nepal Army, Indian Army, Singapore Police Force and British Army.
Traditional cultures
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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 Shandar Dance in Baisakh Purnima, Shandar (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)
editSunuwari Song:
Reuhita Ragimshumshaa
(Raining)
Kirant Kings
editThe 29 Kirat kings were as follows:
- Yalamber
- Pavi
- Skandhar
- Balamba
- Hriti
- Humati
- Jitedasti
- Galinja
- Pushka
- Suyarma
- Papa
- Bunka
- Swananda
- Sthunko
- Jinghri
- Nane
- Luka
- Thor
- Thoko
- Verma
- Guja
- Pushkar
- Keshu
- Suja
- Sansa
- Gunam
- Khimbu
- Patuka
- Gasti
Gallery
edit-
Udhuali -
Sunuwar girl -
Sunuwar culture -
Sunuwar Udhuali Sadhar -
Sunuwar male and female -
Sunuwar Koich Puki at Tudikhel -
Sunuwar Koich Puki at Nakhipot
See also
edit
References
edit[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]
- ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
- ^ "LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT" (PDF).
- ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-19. Retrieved 2011-04-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
- ^ "LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT" (PDF).
- ^ A Grammar of Sunuwar. Dörte Borchers. 2008. ISBN 978-9004167094. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
- ^ 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
- ^ "Central Bureau of Statistics". Cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ "Sunuwar.org". Sunuwar.org. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ [1] Archived 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sunuwar Samaj Hong Kong". Sunuwarsamajhk.org. 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ [2] Archived 2013-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [3] Archived 2013-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Sunuwar Dress - Home". Facebook. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
- ^ "Sunuwar: Sunuwar". Sunuwardurga.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.