| Yakkha |
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| Monday, 03 January 2005 21:45 | |||
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The Yakkhas are a distinct indigenous peoples. The Yakkhas are also known as Dewan by other names. The Yakkha area recognized as the traditional land of Yakkha is the southern part of Sankhuwasabha district bordering the district Dhankuta eastern of Nepal. However, the original homeland of the Kirants people speaking the Yakkha language is the histroical five and ten majhiya region in the southwestern part of Pallo or far Kirant area between the Arun and Tamor rivers. Madimulkharka, tamaphok, Mamgling, Ankhinbhuin and Chanuwa Dandagaun are the names of the 10 Majhiyas etc. and Hatisudhe, Kingring, Chapabhuin are the name of five Majhiyas. Today, many Yakkhas have settled in Darjeeling of India. Their population according to the census of HMG 2001, is 17003, and of this population, 14,648 could speak the yakkha language. Yakkha language is a tibeto-burman language.
 Yakkha Ladies in their traditional dress Following the birth of a Yakkha child, the name-giving ceremony occurs on the fourth day if it is a boy and on the third day if it is a girl. On the day, elderly Yakkha women names the child after a word denoting a date, day and month. Yakkha peoples do not marry between same family names. When undertaking arranged marriages, marriages do not occur with families sharing the same subgroup (Samechhong) and three to five families relatively generations. During wedding, musical instruments like Kei (Chayabrung or Dhol) are played and dancing takes place. The Yakkha's have 32 faimly names (thar) or sub-groups. For example Songren, Somyang, Khamyang, Koyongwa, Hengwa, Pamphu, Thomphara. As among Yakkhas there is a practice of gathering for special occasions and worshipping deities according to decent from the father's side and of keeping the clan deity in the have of the eldest son, we can guess that the Yakkha society is under the leadership of the oldest male of the lineage, in historic and pre-historic times, then were various with their respective posts in Yakkha society to govern etc. This becomes evident from the fact that social posts like Majhiya, Dewan, survive to this day among the Yakkhas. As rgards to religion, Yakkhas adhere to the Kirant religion, their oral religious text is the Mundhum. That they are nature worshippers can be known from the fact that they worship land (Kahamchayang) clan and house (Pangchyang), and the village (tentemma) andUcchayangi (ubhauli), Chaswa (Udhaul ). They also have the practice fo sacrificing chickens and offering alcohol to their deities, the Yakkhas depend on farming for their livelihood. The Yakkhas who traditionally subsisted by farming their own land were known until some decades ago as Jimi or Jimdar. But following 'unification' their land was confiscated and distributed to others as Birta, thus rendening them land less in various places. Although a few here and there are owners of land today. The condition of those employed in foreign military service and in foreign employment is somewhat better. Mailing Address: Contact Person:
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