Kiratism

What it is

Kiratism is the indigenous faith of the Kirati communities in Nepal and parts of India. It blends animism, which sees spirit in nature, with ancestor worship and shamanic practice. The tradition relies on oral scriptures known as the Mundhum to guide daily life and ritual. Believers honour the earth, sky, sun and moon through ceremonies led by tribal priests. The religion maintains distinct customs for each Kirati group while sharing core beliefs about the natural world and ancestral spirits.

Where it comes from

The faith originates from the ancient cultures of the Kirati tribes in the eastern Himalayas. Scholars note it incorporates elements of shamanism and animism alongside some influences from Shaivism. The religious texts, the Mundhum, preserve myths and customs passed down from ancestors. These texts function as customary laws that distinguish the different Kirati tribes from one another and from non-Kiratis.

How it is done

Rituals are performed by priests such as the Nakchhong for the Rai or specific elders for the Limbus. A central feature is the Chulla, a three-stone fireplace representing ancestral presence. During festivals like Sakela, participants offer roosters, rice, ginger and alcohol at the Chulla. They perform circle dances mimicking animals and farming activities while playing drums and cymbals. These acts express gratitude to nature and seek protection for crops.

Tools and materials

The Chulla fireplace is a sacred tool where offerings are made. Ritual items include roasted roosters, ginger, rice, homemade alcohol and tree resin burned for fragrance. Musical instruments like the Dhol drum and Jhyamta cymbals accompany the Sakela dance. The dance itself uses movement to represent planting, harvesting and animal behaviour, serving as a physical prayer to Mother Nature.

What it is for

Practitioners seek protection from natural calamities and good harvests. The Ubhauli festival asks for favourable weather during cultivation. The Udhauli festival thanks ancestors and nature for the harvest. Ancestor worship connects the living to their lineage through the Chulla. The rituals aim to maintain harmony between the community, the land and the spiritual forces believed to inhabit it.

Who does it

Priests lead major rituals. Among the Rai, the Nakchhong performs sacrifices and prayers. The Limbus have designated ritual specialists like phɛdɑŋmɑ and yɛbɑ/mɑ. Household members participate in daily reverence of the Chulla and seasonal festivals. Training involves learning the oral traditions and ceremonial roles within the tribe. Gender roles appear in specific deity associations, with female deities often linked to the earth.

Peoples and places

The religion is practiced by the Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar, Rai, Dhimal and Hayu peoples. Each group has variations in their Mundhum texts and ritual leaders. The Rai focus on Sumnima and Paruhang. The Limbus venerate Tagera Ningwaphuma and Yuma Sammang. Despite differences in language and specific deities, all groups share the core structure of animism, ancestor reverence and seasonal agricultural festivals.

What people believe

The worldview centres on animism and ancestor worship. Deities include Tagera Ningwaphumang as the supreme deity, personified as Yuma Sammang and Theba Sammang. Sumnima represents Mother Earth and Paruhang the Sky God. Spirits are believed to reside in natural elements and the ancestral Chulla. The Mundhum texts record these beliefs and provide the framework for understanding the relationship between humans, nature and the divine.

When it is done

Festivals align with the agricultural cycle. Sakela Ubhauli occurs during the full moon in Baisakh, marking the start of cultivation. Sakela Udhauli happens during the full moon in Mangsir, celebrating the harvest. Yele Sambat marks the new year. These dates correspond to migration patterns of birds and ensure rituals coincide with planting and gathering seasons.

How scholars and sceptics see it

Scholars like Tom Woodhatch describe Kiratism as a blend of shamanism, animism and Shaivism. Anthropologists study how the Mundhum preserves cultural identity and customary law. Researchers examine the distinct theological variations among the four main Kirati tribes. The religion is viewed as an indigenous system that adapts while maintaining its core animistic and ancestral focus.

Compare and confuse

Kiratism shares features with other Himalayan indigenous religions but remains distinct through its specific Mundhum texts and priestly lineages. It differs from mainstream Hinduism despite some Shaivan influences. The term Kirat Veda suggests a scriptural authority similar to Vedic traditions, yet the content remains rooted in local Kirati mythology and oral history rather than Sanskrit canon.

Today

Kiratism is practised by approximately 3.17% of Nepal's population according to 2021 data. Communities in Nepal, Darjeeling and Sikkim maintain their traditions. Diaspora groups, such as Kirantis in Qatar, continue to observe festivals. The religion persists through oral transmission of the Mundhum and the continued performance of seasonal rituals by tribal elders and households.

Questions people ask about Kiratism

Good reading and sources

• Kiratism on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data