The Rai (Kirati: also known as Jimmī/jimdār or Khāmbu, Rāi; Devanagari: राई) are an ethnolinguistic group belonging to the Kirat family and primarily Tibeto-Burman speaking linguistic ethnicity. They are Indigenous peoples of eastern parts of Nepal, the Indian states of Sikkim hilly regions of Darjeeling, Kalimpong of West Bengal and in southwestern Bhutan.www.landnepal.com
The Rai, as a set of groups, are one of the oldest tribes of Nepal. They inhabited the area between the Dudh Koshi and Tamur River in Nepal. and also found adjoining region of India Sikkim and Northern hill regions of West Bengal.Dor Bahadur Bista, People of Nepal (1967)Martin Gaenszle (ed.), Encyclopedia of the Religions of Indigenous People of South Asia (2019). The Rai, also known as Khambu, Historically, many Rai chiefs held the hereditary offices of Jimmi orJimdar serving as village headmen, hereditary landholders, and local administrators responsible for managing land, collecting revenue, maintaining order, and representing the state.Mahesh Chandra Regmi, Land Tenure and Taxation in Nepal.H.H. Risley. The Gazetteer of Sikkim (1894). The 1891 Sikkim Census lists "Rai," "Jimdar," and "Khambu" separately, but later scholars explain that these names referred to the same Kirati community During the rule of the Sen Kingdom of Makawanpur, many Kirati chiefs were recognized or granted the title Rai which later became a hereditary surname among numerous Kirati communities.Grégoire Schlemmer (2010). The Emergence of the Kirant Rai Identity in Eastern Nepal.Documenta Nepalica (Heidelberg Academy of Sciences). Entry "Rāī" states that the title Rāya was given by the Sens of Makwanpur to Kiranti ministers and was also used for village headmen in Kiranti communities During the eighteenth-century Gorkhali expansion under Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Rai and other Kirati chiefdoms resisted incorporation into the expanding Gorkha Kingdom.Kumar Pradhan. The Gorkha Conquests: The Process and Consequences of the Unification of Nepal. Oxford University Press, 1991 Following the conquest of eastern Nepal in 1772–1773, many Rai Jimmis and Jimdars continued to serve as local administrative authorities under the new state while preserving their customary institutions, languages, and Mundum
Geographical distribution Nepal Numbering about 750,000, the Rai people mainly inhabit the eastern part of Nepal. Linguists have identified up to 28 different Rai languages, most of them mutually unintelligible.
Rai traditionally inhabited districts of Eastern Nepal by linguistic groups are:
Khotang inhabited by: Chamling, Dumi, Puma, Sampang, Koyu, Nachhiring and Tilung. Bhojpur inhabited by: Bantawa, Dungmali, Sampang, Kulung and Mewahang/Newahang. Solukhambu inhabited by: Kulung, Khaling, Thulung Nachhiring/Sotang and Bahing/Bayung. Sankhuwasabha inhabited by: Yamphu, Mewahang, Lohorung and Kulung Dhankuta inhabited by: Athpare, Belhare, Chiling/Chulung, Mugali, Phangduwali and Bantawa. Okhaldhunga inhabited by: Wambule, Jerung and Bahing/Bayung. Udaypur inhabited by: Chamling, Tilung and Wambule Sindhuli inhabited by: Jerung and Wambule Makawanpur (Rai gaun) inhabited by: देवास Dewas
2011 Nepal census classifies the Rai people within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II go to page 56 At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 620,004 people (2.3% of the population of Nepal) were Rai. The frequency of Rai people by province was as follows: Koshi Province (11.3%) Bagmati Province (1.5%) Gandaki Province (0.3%) Madhesh Province (0.2%) Lumbini Province (0.1%) Karnali Province (0.0%) Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Rai people was higher than national average (2.3%) in the following districts: Khotang (36.8%) Bhojpur (32.1%) Ilam (19.8%) Dhankuta (19.8%) Solukhumbu (19.7%) Udayapur (17.3%) Panchthar (13.8%) Sankhuwasabha (10.7%) Okhaldhunga (10.0%) Sunsari (6.6%) Taplejung (5.1%) Morang (4.5%) Jhapa (4.7%) Nuwakot (3.6%) Lalitpur (2.7%)
India, Bhutan and other countries Rai predominate in the Indian states of Sikkim, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik and Dooars of West Bengal.Dissertation submitted to Sikkim University in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy (Dept. of Sociology) Rai is the single largest ethnic community in Sikkim. Rai population is mostly found in the south, west and east of Sikkim. Large number of Rai people are also found living in Assam and other northeastern states of India, the Kingdom of Bhutan, while some have recently migrated to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States and other countries.
History Origin and Mythology of Rai people
The Kirat Rai are an Indigenous people of the eastern Himalayas whose languages belong to the Kiranti branch of the Tibeto-Burman (Trans-Himalayan/Sino-Tibetan) language family. Linguistic and anthropological studies indicate that their ancestors gradually settled across the Koshi basin, including the Dudhkoshi, Arun, Barun, Tamur, and Mewa Khola valleys, and later expanded into Sikkim, North Bengal (Darjeeling and Kalimpong), and parts of Northeast India, maintaining cultural links with the eastern Himalayan and Brahmaputra Valley regions. In Rai Mundum, sacred landscapes such as Barahakshetra, Khuwalung, Salpa, and Tuwachung are central to origin traditions, migration narratives, and ritual life.ir.nbu.ac.inbooks.google.co.inwww.recordnepal.com Historically, the Rai have shared long-standing cultural and regional connections with other Indigenous communities, including the Limbu, Yakkha, Dhimal, Koch, Meche, and Tharu, while each has maintained its own distinct language, identity, and traditions. The Mundum recounts the deeds of Paruhang and Sumnima, and Raichhakule, Tayama Khiyama, preserving the Rai worldview and ancestral heritage.Gerd Hansson (1991). The Rai of Eastern Nepal: Ethnic and Linguistic Grouping.Thomrom (2001). Kirat Rodu GenealogyNawa Raj Subba (2021)
Kirat Dynasty in Kathmandu Valley
Nepal enters into real historical era with the conquest of Kathmandu Valley by the Kiratis. The Kiratis are said to have been the aborigines inhabiting Eastern Nepal and having their own administrative set-up. Under the able leadership of their chieftain "Yalung" or Yalambar the Kiratis defeated Bhuwan Singh; the last king in the Ahir Dynasty and brought the Kathmandu valley under their sway. In a Nutshell with some Comparative traces of foreign History From various sources mentioning Long period altogether 29 to 32 Kirati kings who had ruled over Nepal 1225 years from 800 BCE to 300 AD. Gopal genealogy mentions 32 Kirati Kings to have ruled over Nepal different genealogies have found to be stating different names of last Kirati King. The Lichhavi monarchical dynasty was established in Nepal by defeating last Kirati King 'Khigu', according to Gopal genealogy, 'Galiz' according to language-genealogy and 'Gasti', according to Wright genealogy. Chyasal is the place of final battlefield for Kiratis and Lichhavis. About 250 A.D. Kirati rule end in Kathmandu Valley and Kiratis moved towards east. Various ancient historical, archeological sites related to history of Kiratis and Kirati period in Kathmandu Valley like Chyasal, Patan Durbar, Patuk Don, Gokarna, Thankot, Birupakshya, Lalitpur, Akash Bhairav etc.
Kirat Kingdom in the east According to historians the Lichhavis got victory only over Kathmandu. in other parts of the eastern country Kirati rule is still maintained. After the defeated Kiratis by Lichhavis in Kathmandu valley the Kiratis moved gradually east wards ruling in the small territories. In the process of expansion Kiratis extended from Banepa, Dulikhel, Sindupalchok, Darawardanda, Dolakha, Charikot to Kiratichap.m.youtube.com Kiratis built a fort in Kiratichap and started to rule again still many evidences of Kiratis ancient ruins graveyard can be found in Dolakha, Sindupalchok region like "Kirat Thursa" in Jiri "Kiratichap" in Dolakha.kathmandupost.comroundsimaging.com according to various folklore and oral history Lichhavi attacked again Kiratis in Dolakha and chased away. In Pursuit of the fertile land some kiratis followed Sunkoshi river they become Sunuwar. others who followed the Tamakoshi, Dudhkoshi, Arun and Tamur rivers they become today's Rai, Yakkha, Sunuwar and Limbu . After settling down in different areas Kiratis made their appropriate 'Kipat,' 'the area,' and again in the mountain region eastern hills Kiratis ruled over for centuries. in course of time due to the geo-political division three Kirati states were created as Wallo Kirat(Near Kirat), Majh Kirat (Middle Kirat) and Pallo Kirat or (Far east Kirat).
Gorkhali conquest in Kirat country Around 1743 AD King Prithvi Narayan Shah of Gorkha started to Unification of Nepal campaign, conquering many small states Gorkhalis also started to attacked in the Kirat Region. according to historians, before the unification of Nepal by Prithvivinaryan Shah from Banepa to Trishuli River and around Teesta River known as Kiratdesh the territory of Kiratis. Looking at the evidence of the time when Prithvinarayan Shah expanded the Gorkha kingdom, Dolakha, Ramechhap and Sindhuli fall in Wallo Kirat and the part from Sunkoshi to upper Arun river falls in Manjh Kirat . The area from Upper Arun Arun river to East Teesta River falls within Pallo Kirat . when Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded the Dhulikhel border area of (Wallo Kirat) in 1768 AD, that time the Kirat King of Dhulikhel Chaukhat Mahindra Sing Rai and his brother Namsing Rai strongly resisted and fought valiantly with Prithivinarayan shah's huge army for a very long time. King Prithvi Narayan Shah had deployed Sardar Ram Krishna Kunwar to the invasion of Kirant regional areas comprising; Pallo Kirant, Wallo Kirant and Majh Kirant. There are many kings and chiftens and forts under Wallo Kirat and Majh Kirat area.
At the time when Prithivi Narayan Shah fought the Kirat region. In this historical period, Waling Hang was the king in Hatuwā Gaḍhi(Majh Kirat) in across the Arun River. The kings of Hatuwa extended their rule over part of Khalsa. The Khalsa territory present day Ankhisalla, Dhankuta District ruled by King Budhahang. Budhahang disappeared when Prithivi Narayan Shah attacked him. It is said that during the war with the Shah king, he could revive dead Kirati warriors who were killed. On 29 August 1772, Ram Krishna Kanwar crossed Dudhkoshi river enter Chaudandi to invade of Kirant and Saptari region with fellow commander Abhiman Singh Basnyat.
Khambu Kirati Youths who were skilled archers, stemmed the advance of the Gorkhali troops at every step with their arrows. they inflicted heavy losses on the Gorkhalis, so that Prithivinarayan Shah had to send reinforcement sounder the commend of Subedar Shiva Narayan Khatri. Chatim Rai of Rawa Khola and Atal Rai of Pamakham were two principal Khambus Kirati ultimately proved ineffective before, the bows and arrows of the Gorkhalis. within a period of 5 months the Gorkhalis occupied Rawa, Halesi, Majuwa, Kulum and Dingla thus conquering the hole of Majh Kirat.
Culture Rai Community has its own traditional culture and rituals. all Rai people practice same rituals of life from birth to death. but there are some variation in rites and rituals in Rai communities living in different places.
Marriage system