Sunuwar people

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]

"Sunuwar" redirects here. For the language, see Sunuwar_language.
Sunuwar, Koinch
सुनुवार, कोइँच
Kirati Koinch Sunuwar
Total population
   Nepal 78,910 (2021)[1]
 India
Sikkim3,795(2006)[2]
Languages
Sunuwar, Nepali
Religion
Predominantly: Kiratism • Hinduism 92.29% • Christianity 7.23% (2011)[3]
Related ethnic groups
Sunuwar Udhauli at Nakhipot, Lalitpur, Nepal.

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

The 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:

The frequency of Sunuwar was higher than national average (0.2%) in the following districts:[9]

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 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
Lunar month

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
  • Udhuali
    Udhuali
  • Sunuwar girl
    Sunuwar girl
  • Sunuwar culture
    Sunuwar culture
  • Sunuwar Udhuali Sadhar
    Sunuwar Udhuali Sadhar
  • Sunuwar male and female
    Sunuwar male and female
  • Sunuwar Koich Puki at Tudikhel
    Sunuwar Koich Puki at Tudikhel
  • Sunuwar Koich Puki at Nakhipot
    Sunuwar Koich Puki at Nakhipot

See also

References

[10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

  1. National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  2. "LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT" (PDF).
  3. Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  4. "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)
  5. National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  6. "LINGUISTIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES UNDER SSP LED GOVERNMENT" (PDF).
  7. A Grammar of Sunuwar. Dörte Borchers. 2008. ISBN 978-9004167094. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  8. Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
  9. 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
  10. "Central Bureau of Statistics". Cbs.gov.np. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  11. "Sunuwar.org". Sunuwar.org. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  12. Archived 2013-09-22 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Sunuwar Samaj Hong Kong". Sunuwarsamajhk.org. 2011-09-23. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  14. Archived 2013-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  15. Archived 2013-09-08 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Sunuwar Dress - Home". Facebook. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
  17. "Sunuwar: Sunuwar". Sunuwardurga.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2017-07-01.
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