About Historical and Contemporary Limbu Women of Nepal

The people of Limbu are known in their native languages ​​as Yakthungba [refers to the man of Limbu] and Yakthungma [refers to the woman of Limbu]. Yambechha means male and menchhuma means female. They are descendants of the ancient Nepalese Cyrant dynasty. The Kyrant dynasty ruled Nepal from 3102 BC to the 7th century as the first ruler of Nepal.

Historically, until 225 years ago, Rimbus had its own territory known as Rambwan, before King Plitvina Layansha united the territory that forms Nepal today. Currently, this region is located in the eastern part of Nepal [including Taplejung, Sankhuwasabha, Panchthar, Ilam, Dhankuta, Tehrathum] and the northern part of Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts. According to the 2001 Nepal Census, Limbus has a population of 359,371 [1.58% of Nepal's population]. Traditionally, they were followers of the Kiran religion, a kind of animism, and the belief that both creatures and inanimate objects such as trees, rivers, and mountains have souls. They have their own spoken and written language. LIMBU scripts are known as Sirijanga scripts.

Limb women's historical social roles:

Traditional Limbu women wore choro on white [7 yards long material wrapped as a skirt]. Wrap Phaee [long cloth] around your waist and tie a shim. They always covered their heads with takuhumia [a large scarf] as an accessory. They loved to wear large gold and silver ornaments. Limb women traditionally wore a pair of nesses [big flat-designed gold earrings], a gold mundry as a nose ring, and a dungry stud stud. Limbu women wore gold or silver bangles in their hands. Silver potash was worn as an anklet. They also wore different types of ornaments at different occasions, ceremonies and festivals. Some of these ornaments are Pangese [necklace made of nine gold beads connected with glass beads], Rabahun [Crescent-shaped gold ornament worn as a hair clip], Namroy or Yogapa [Large silver necklace], shishifun or nekhopun [flower shaped gold stud earrings], reji [coin necklace made of ancient silver coins], and Swagep [gold ring attached to fingers]. Also, in the past, Limbs women wore rascali in their ears, but had five or six similar small gold rings in series. You can still see the old Limb women in the village dressed up like this. All kinds of clothes and ornaments worn by women suggest that the limb economy was well suited to the needs of the time. Traditional Limbu women looked very elegant and created a unique identity in the world.

Limbu women like to dance Ya Lan [Mizuta dance] and Ke Lan [Limbe traditional drum dance] at formal events such as marriage and religious ceremonies. There is also a dance named Mang Lang [Dev naach-God dance] to celebrate religious events.

Most of Limbas are farmers, and many men work as guru soldiers or guards of foreign troops [UK, India, etc.] in Singapore, Brunei and Hong Kong. Women help farming by working in the fields. They plant rice, harvest crops and take care of livestock. They also raise children and raise in-laws.

My mother was talking about "Pewa" [Pewa is Limbu and is a source of money]. Limbu's parents were very generous with their unmarried daughter. Some unmarried women owned several goats and pigs, so they could sell livestock and make money to buy what they wanted.

My grandfather gave my mother a couple of orange trees, and from there, she was able to earn money by selling oranges in the Daran market. This allowed her to purchase her jewelry and what she needed. At that time, buying gold and silver jewelry was a kind of family investment.

This article is about Limbu women. I must not forget their gourmet cuisine. Limbus usually eats normal Nepalese dishes, white rice, dal [lentil soup], talcary [curry], and akar [a kind of salsa sauce]. Limb Gourmet Food-Kinema Coal [Soaked Fermented Soybeans], Gandulak Coacar or Gandulok Coso Soup [fermented mustard leaves], Yanben [Moss growing on trees], etc. Beverages called tomba [millet beer] are consumed, especially in large wooden containers with bamboo or small bamboo straws].

Limbu women were once great fabric artist entrepreneurs and very hardworking. There was no imported yarn available for weaving, so they grew cotton in their fields. After harvesting raw cotton and drying it in the sun, they were turning the yarn to weave. Once opened, “Chichikosari” knitted by Limbu women was very popular among other Nepalese women. They also used to weave a hand-woven cloth called Dhaka. They are very creative by coming up with different kinds of ethnic patterns such as tankhokpa [star]. Imported clothing was not readily available, so they sold the fabric material to women and men in other communities. This type of traditional fabric has been handed down to the offspring of women. Dhaka materials are now very popular, and Dhaka Topis [hat], traditional patchouli [big scarf], and Dhaka Choros [blouse] are available. Today, ties and Dhakaru Tasuruwar [pants suits] are very popular. Traditional materials are also used for interior decoration in modern modern houses. Used for cushion covers, curtains, table runners, table mats, etc. This material is used to create unique and unique designer outfits in boutiques. Certainly, it is the achievements of the mother and grandmother that have inherited such skills for generations.

Modern Limb women and their social roles:

Today's Limb women usually don't wear traditional clothing or heavy jewelry. They wear all sorts of modern outfits, including Kurta Surwar, Sally, and other formal and casual clothes. Married women wear traditional Nepalese ornaments such as tilhari with sari and kurtasulwar. Unmarried women wear light jewelery such as studs, hoops, dangle earrings, chain pendants, gold link bracelets, rings, and ankleettes of Kurta Sulwal and Western-style costumes. Some married women also wear formal gold jewelery inspired by the Indians. For example, heavy manga sutra necklaces and large dangling earrings.

The modern Limbu society, especially in urban areas, has evolved from a village society 100 years ago. Modern society has brought many changes. Limbu's women's responsibilities usually include home maintenance, cooking, caring for children and in-laws, but now it supports children's education, runs shops, and professionals outside the home It also includes pursuing. Of course, investment in the stock market is not common in Nepal. Limb women manage their financial investments in land and property. There are many women whose husbands are still working as Gurkha soldiers abroad. They learn to manage their lives very efficiently on their own.

Today, some Limbe women have established careers in all areas, including politics, media, business, professional performing arts, legal services, education, and medical professionals. The following are the names of Limbu women who are active in various fields.

Anja Narimbu [Shresta]: Film actress, her most famous movie is Balidan

Anupamasba: actress of the famous movie “Numahun”

Vishnu Chemjon: First Lux Nepal Star. She was chosen from 5000 other contestants for her beautiful voice.

Gina Linden: First Limbu Female Pilot

Jayan Subba Manandhar: Choreographer and owns a modeling agency called Ramp

Kala Subba: Active model, choreographer, and Hits FM RJ.

Lilla Suva [Shresta]: Member of the Nepalese Parliament.

Pabitra Subba: A famous Nepalese singer and actress.

Malvika Subba: 2002 Miss Nepal. Worked for two years as an event manager for Nepal Miss Pageant with Kantipur Television as an anchor.

Srijana Subba: Active member of Kirat Yakthung Chumlung and representative of Limbu Shamans Association in Nepal. She works as the program director of NGO-FONIN.

Modern Limb women are highly regarded for their incredible results in a short period of time. Today, young Limbe women whose mothers and grandmothers may or may not be able to read and write can either go on to college or receive specialized training for skilled employment.

There are a small number of Limbe women compared to the total population of Nepal, but they are actively involved in all areas.