GURUNG

The main Gurung settlements are in the Gandaki Zone of Nepal where the Gurun way of life and culture is preserved in the clean environs of villages and their typical houses and huts. Gurungs are of two classes – Char Jatey and Sorha Jatey. As famous warriors, they get recruited in en mass in Nepalese and also foreign armies, specially the Indian and British. Simple and smart, Gurungs are, therefore, well-to-do people in Nepalese villages. Though Buddhist by faith, many of them have also been influenced by Hindu culture. Women exercise much freedom in Gurung society. Rodighar, the entertainment house of the Gurungs where mostly unmarried young men and women sing and dance at night very much resemble modern night clubs. Cattle breeding and weaving of woollen shawls and blankets are the traditional professions of Gurungs.

Major habitats of Gurungs are the districts of Kaski, Lamjung, Gorkha, Syangja, Manang and Tanahu in the Gandaki Zone while they are also scattered in Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha and Taplejung in East Nepal. Animal husbandry is the main occupation. They speak languages related to the Mongolian-Khmer and Tibeto-Burman lineages. Gurungs do have a long history rooted in the ancient ages. Ghaley is the respectful term used to address their high ruling class clan. Gurungs are predominantly Buddhist. Their institutions and rituals like the famous Lhosar festival, Rodi Ghar and Rodi dance have high esteem in the Nepalese culture. They practice cremation as well as burial when someone is dead. Gurungs call themselves Tamu. Their languages have no script of their own and they use the Devnagari script.