Tamang People

With a population of over a million, the Tamangs are the largest Tibeto-Burman ethnic group found in Nepal. They are also one of the oldest groups to inhabit Nepal. This group views themselves as one tribe, though they speak many different dialects which are not always mutually understandable. 

Tamangs follow the religion of Tibetan Buddhism, but mix this heavily with animism and somewhat with Hinduism. Their priests, or lamas, have a dominant role in the community and perform ceremonies for funerals, to ensure a certain deity's protection on crops, etc. Perhaps the most powerful person in the society is the shaman, however, who exercises demons, and interacts with the spirit world. 

Most Tamangs live in the hills. As a result, their lands are not generally as prosperous to farm as the lowlands. This has caused them to be economically behind. Their traditional foods consist of millet, maize, wheat, and barley flour. They also make local wines called jad and raksi, which they drink freely and use in their ceremonies.

Tamangs love to sing, dance, and play instruments. They are strong in their convictions and beliefs and can be aggressive in fighting to defend those beliefs. This quality though, makes them good leaders, and has kept them from being exploited by other groups.

Tamang community is divided into different clans. They practice cross-cousin marriage and does not allow to change the title of woman into her husbands clans. Lhochhar is their main festival. They have their own priests known as Lama, Bombo and Tamba. Tamang village (Nansa) with a house (dim) is a geographical entity into life-force and prayer flags stand by.

Economy and Trade

Most Tamangs, living in compact traditional settlements, are self- sufficient as far as food is concerned. Tamangs living outside such settlements are generally very poor and they mainly work as porters, coolies for the trekkers and traders in the hill areas. They can not sustain on the cultivation on their marginal strip of land. Tamangs are very skillful in making woolen garments from sheep wool. Some of them are also trained to paint beautiful thankas.

Tradition and Culture

The Tamang community is divided into several exogamous clans. A Tamang may marry any other except from his or her own clan. Cross- cousin marriage is preferred. Polyandry is not found but polygamy is common.

The Tamangs are Buddhists. The religious activities are based on Jhankrism. There are several ghyangs (Buddhist temples) in every Tamang settlement. All their festivals and ceremonies are performed in Buddhist fashion. On the first day of Magh ( some day in January and February), they celebrate Chho in these ghyangs.

Another feasting ceremony, nara is observed on the full moon day. Altogether, the Tamangs represent a community greatly exploited and poor in general.

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