Anthropologists say Daraee or Darai are a subtribe of Tharu itself. Physically Dari have flat nose, short and robust body and black complexion. Danuwar, Darai and Majhis are an indigenous people of inner Terai Valleys and Churia hills. They like to live in river basins. The area comprising north of Tharu areas and south of middle hills is considered the privitive settlement of Darais (Bista, 1996).

The two districts where Darais live are Chitwan and Tanahu. There are various guessworks about how the name Darai was given to this tribe. These guesses do not appear reliable and scientific. In the historical document of Nepal, they are referred to as Darwai, Dahri, Daree, Daroe, Darai, etc (Gautam and Thapa Magar, 1994:157). In language and costumes they are close to Tharus. Women would wear kneelong skirt like sarees and men would wear dhoti (a cloth worn round waist), Kachhad (loincloth), Langauti (underwear), etc. Although their main settlements are in Damauli and Maadi basins, the Darai are found in Chitwan, Gorkha, Palpa and Nawalparasi, too. Despite the fact that the Danuwars and the Darais belong to the same group, the Darais are not scattered in as many districts as the Danuwars. The census of 2001 records the population of Darai at 14,859. The Darais are of Mongoloid stock. Their spoken language, however, is replete with words from languages like Nepali, Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri mixed with Magar and Gurung. They have a separate language which resembles Tharu language. This is not a language having literate tradition.

Culture and rituals of Darais are distinct. The newborn is named in 11 days if it is a boy and in eight days if it is a girl. It can be done in five days also if compelled by circumstances. It is a general practice among Darai to name the baby after the weekdays, months or dates of their birth. Their traditional names, though, are somewhat different like Bikawa, Tikku, Lakhum, etc. Likewise, female names are Jananti, Buddhani, Dukhini, etc. They do not have the ceremonial first haircut but they do have the cereal-feeding ceremony. Marriage practices are as follows: Magi Bibaha (marriage by arrangement), Chori Bibaha (marriage by force), Bhagi Bibaha (marriage by elopement) and Gharjwain Bibaha (marriage wherein the groom will live in the bride's home). In the Magi Bibaha, people from the boys' side go to visit the home of the parents of the girl with the matchmaker (Kalaiya). The boys' side should carry jand (local beer), spirit, pig and he-goat to the girls' side. Like the Tharus they have a practice of the boy staying in the home of the bride for three years ploughing the field and looking after the cattle, etc. The death rites are duly performed.

Darais are of 12 thars (clans). Whatever the thar their rites and rituals are the same. The oldest person in the family is designated as the head of the family. He is called mukhiya and his duty is to make arrangements for a rice field or some other employment. Similarly, the wife of the mukhiya should look after the household chores within the family. This is not only a joint family but also a joint home of several families. Their homes, like those of Tharus, are made by smearing with cowdung and mud. They sing chudke geet (a kind of folksong). They dance a kind of special dance called ghatunach. They strictly refrain from working on the day of halsaro (the first day on which land is worshipped before starting to plough), which falls in the month of Ashad (June-July). On the first day of the Nepalese newyear in Baisakh they produce fire by rubbing two pieces of hardhood. They are worshippers of nature. They respect and worship the family deity, Bandevi. They worship family god, ghosts and spirits. Like Tharus, others worship Hindu gods and goddesses. Bikram Baba is their favourite saint. Jand and spirit are required in every type of worship.

The main occupation of Darais is agriculture. Since they traditionally live in river basins, fishing is both a profession and a hobby for them. Because they are simple in nature, the trading class people exploit them very badly. They work in the lands that belong to others. They subsist on wages.