Nepali people are less in
number compared bhutia and lepchas of the district. Most of the nepalis of
North Sikkim belong to the Kirat family (Limbu/Subba, Gurung, Mangar etc.) and
are settled around Mangshila, and Tingchim .Nepali people are believed to be
very courageous and are popularly known as Ghorkas in the Indian sub-continent.
Limbus or Subbas are also called Yakthambas ( yak-herders) and they are further
divided into Kasigotra, Bhuiphutia and the Lhasagotra (Tsongs). Nepalis are
basically hindus but many of them specially kirats are Buddhists too. Nepali
language is common in the district and even in the state . Though Nepalis belonging
to kirat family have their own language like, limbu, tamang, gurung etc. but
they all speak Nepali and many of them are great poets and writers of Nepali
language. Nepali language has now been included in the eighth schedule of the Indian
constitution. The great Hindu epic “Mahabharata” has been translated into Nepali
language by a poet named -Bhanu Bhakta who was from Nepal. He is remembered by Nepalis
as ‘adi kabi’ meaning first true poet.
Traditional
dress of Nepali male is ‘Dhaura’, ‘Surwal’, ‘Topi’ and ‘Patuka’ where as that
of the female member is ‘Ghuniu’,’Choli’,’Patuka’ and ‘Hembari’
Nepali Male and Female in their Traditional Dressess
Nepali
folklores are called ‘LOK GITH’ and are highly melodious. The traditional Nepali
dances are maruni nach, khukuri nach, sangini nach, chabrung, balan etc.
and they all are performed very beautifully.