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The Limbu (meaning: archer) are an ethnic group belong to the Kiranti group or Kirat confederation that includes the Rai and Sunuwar ethnic groups. Their population of 400,000 is centered on the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Panchthar and Ilam, all within the district of Mechi in Nepal, Sikkim, and a smaller number in the cities of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, India and in Bhutan. They speak a Tibeto-Burman dialect called Yakthungpan, which uses a script based on the Tibetan alphabet. They are divided between the Lhasa gorta (those from Lhasa), and Kashi gorta, those who come from the Benaras.
The Limbu are agriculturalists. Rice and maize are their principal crops. Although the abundance of land has made cultivation of new areas possible, productivity is greatly limited by insufficient technology. Excess crops are often traded for food that cannot be grown in the region or for necessary items.
Marriage were arranged by the parents in the past, thus resulting very little or no say between the children. Today, as western influence began to penetrate into the Limbu, the children have more say in which partner to decide with. The Limbu have three types of legal marriages: adultery, arrangement, and abduction. In the case of adultery, a compensation must be paid to the previous husband. Women are quite influential within the Limbu families, particularly when their husbands are away from home serving in the army. However, she is only fully recognized when she bears her first child. The Limbu trace their lineage patrilineally.
The Limbu follow the Kiranti Mundum religion. However, like the Rai, their religion is influenced by both Hinduism and Lamaism, although Lamaist influence is more apparent in the case of the Limbu than with respect to the Rai. Their religion is enshrined in the evergreen Cynodondactylon (Dubo) grass the rocks. They bury their dead. They celebrate the dance festivals of Kelangma popularly known Chyabrung (two-sided drum) and Yarakma (Paddy dance) as major events. Their priests include the Fedangba, Shamba and Yewa-Yema.
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