Facts about Sunuwar
The Kiranti-Kõits

Relegion and Culture

Most of the Kirant practice animism and shamanism. The male shaman in their Mother Tongue is Põibo. The term Põibo has a historical connection with ‘Bonpo’ in Tibetan and the female-shaman is known as Gyami. But Põibo and Gyami’s meaning is not limited to healing art and trance in the Kiranti-Kõits mulkem [culture] as generally understood by western scholars or researchers. Apart from Põibo and Gyami, Na?so (‘tribal priest’ and Nakso, Nochung etc. in other Kiranti-Rai languages) is another important figure for conducting Kirant Mundum (‘knowledge transferred in spoken form’) particularly known as Salaaku ‘divine unwritten mantra’( also cf Rapacha 2003). Today, it is in practice where Põibo, Gyami and Na?so are not available easily due to effect of dual culture.

Like the Kachin tribes (e.g. Jinghpaw, or Jingpo (Chingpaw, Ching-po, or Singhpo), Atsi, Maru (Naingvaw), Lashi, Nung (Rawang), and Lisu (Yawyin)), Kiranti-Kõits tribes/ethnic groups perform ancestor-cult entailing animal sacrifice. And Shyãdar Shyil (Indo-Aryan Nepali etymon ‘Chandi Nach’) is part of this cult. The term Shyãdar connotatively signifies Surom or ‘Guardian Angel’ and Shyil literally means dance. Other connotative meanings of the terms are: land, earth, nature, plantation, harvest and imitation of nature. Therefore, the Kiranti-Kõits tribes worship nature and their ancestors as a part of human existence. The Shyil is, thus practiced to pay homage to nature and ancestors who they believe to be everlasting source of human civilization.

What is their clan-nomenclature?
What are their cult-pantheons?
Language
Chengu Puja