Kirati people
The Kirati people are Tibeto-Burman groups who live in the Himalayan region, mainly in Nepal and parts of northeast India (Sikkim, Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal). About 1.2 million Kirati live in Nepal (2021), around 300,000 in India, and tens of thousands in Bhutan. They speak Kiranti languages.
Most Kirati follow Kiratism, a traditional, nature- and ancestor-worshiping belief system (about 81%). The remaining Kirati practice Hinduism, Christianity, or Buddhism. Their traditional knowledge is written in Mundhum, a book of origins, history, culture and customs. Shamanic healers called Nakchhong also play a central role in many communities.
Within the Kirati world, the best-known groups are the Limbu, Rai, Yakkha and Sunuwar. The Limbu have their own script, the Sirijanga, which was revived in the 18th century by scholar Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe. Historically, Kirati people lived in eastern Nepal and nearby regions for thousands of years; Kathmandu Valley was once ruled by Kirat kings for about 1,100 years.
Over the centuries, Tibetan migrants brought Bön and then Tibetan Buddhist influence to the Kirat areas, especially in Sikkim, Bhutan and eastern Nepal. The Kirati homeland also includes Limbuwan, a region with many small kingdoms that eventually joined the Nepalese kingdom in the 18th century.
Festivals are important in Kirati life. Key celebrations include Sakela (also called Sakewa), Ubhauli (planting season) and Udhauli (harvest), along with other rites honoring ancestors and nature.
Historically, Kirati people have contributed to the broader culture of the region, including influencing the early Newar population in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kirati are a distinct and enduring part of the Himalayan cultural mosaic.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 12:36 (CET).