MAGAR (SHORT INTRODUCTION) Magar is one of the indigenous ethnic nationalities of Nepal. It is one of the bravest communities with its own ancient rich culture. The regions that the Magar tribe inhabit are the destricts of Palpa, Gulmi, Argha khanchi, Syangja, Baglung, Parbat, Myagdi, Tanahun, Gorkha, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi in the Western region, Rolpa, Rukum, Dolpa, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Pyuthan in the Mid- Western region and Ilam, Taplejung, Dhankuta, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Okhaldhunga in the Eastern region. Besides these areas there are small pockets of Magars spread out in the regions of the hot tarai both east and west, and also in the hills and the areas around the Central region of Nepal. Magars follow Buddhism with priest called Bhusal, the social process of Sanskritization has drawn some southern Magar population to develop a syncretic form of Hinduism that combinesanimist and Buddhist rituals. Under the main ones beings Ale, Thapa, Pun and Rana. There are more than 700 sub THARS (family names) of Magar.According to Nepal’s 2001 census 1,622,421 people (excluding Magars living abroad) identified themselves as belonging to the Magar ethno linguistic group representing 7.4% of Nepal population and making them the largest indigenous ethnic group in the country. It is estimated that there are 5 million Magars around the world today.In the past Magars had their own small states called Chaubise raja or Bahar Magarant and Ath Magarant. They also played vital roles on making of today’s great Nepal. Despite their glorious history and legend Magars are lagging behind in the socioeconomic and political strata of Nepal, which is an effect of Sanskritization or “Braman Bad”With its own script called “AKHA LIPI” Magar language has four dialects which marginally differ in some aspects to each other its because according to the places into which they were drifted apart from other groups and were in isolation for long time during the course of the history. This language is rooted in the Tibeto-Barman family.Medium built, wheatened in complex oval or round face, black hair, razor cut eyes generally describes the physiques of Magars in nature they are cheerful, peace loving kind hearted, gentle honest and brave people. During their leisure or at the time of festival they like to be involved in merry making by singing and performing their traditional dances like Sorathi, Ghantu, Jhyaure, Dohri, Rodhi, Kaura Chutka. Salaijo and many more.Magars traditionally engage in subsistence, agriculture, pastoralism craftsmanship, hunting and fishing. However these days Magars are also in the field of other professions like medicine, education civil services, laws, journalism, development, aviation and politics. The Magars are prominently represented in Nepal’s military as well as in British and Indian Gurkha regiments along with the Gurung, Rai and other martial ethic groups from the hills of Nepal.Magars are spread not only within Nepal but also in other neighboring counties of Nepal like Bhutan, Burma, and Bangladesh and in Deharadun Darjeeling Sikkim, Assam Nagaland and Bhaksu in India. Further away- today Magars are also settled or are they’re for study or other work related purposes in many other countries of the world. Similarly many Magars associations are formed with common goals of bonding themselves well, and keeping coordinal social relation with other communities in order to preserve and promote their culture, tradition and language back alive for the sake of their identity forever.Here is an interesting story described about Magar’s Origins and version of three different language groups are presented in TRIBAL ETHNOGRAPHY OF NEPAL Volume-II, by Dr. Rajesh Gautam and Asoke k. Thapa Magar.The origin of the Magar of the Bara Magaranth is that in the land known as Seem there lived a tribe of people. There were two brothers named See Magar and chintoo Magar who began to have differences thus while one stayed back the other headed south and after a series of migrations reached the place called Kangwachen. This is in southern Sikkim and made up of a called on whose northern end lived the Bhotia people while at the bottom or southern end settled these Magar immigrants. As the years passed the Magars became very powerful and made the northern Bhotia their vassals. At this time the Magar king named Sintoo Sati Sheng (shang) ruled in a very despotic manner and the northern bhotia conspired and assassinated him. Later on the queen of this king took revenge and poisoned 1000 Bhotia people at a place called Tong Song Fong meaning where a thousand were murdered. But later son the Bhotia won and so the Magar had to again migrate further south and from there they moved in all directions among which one froup migrated to Simraogadh. They are believed to have moved towards the Bara Magarnth area of Palpa, Gulmi, Dhor, Gherung, etc. one group moved towards the Okhaldhunga region and another group seems to have returned to the east. No dates are given.The Kham Magar further west of the Bara Magaranth Magars has a different origin legend. There were four brothers, so says the legend, and one day they went hunting but got lost. They camped at a place and desributed the chores to do. From there four brothers the carious jats or tribes emanated. The first tribe was the Bahun Magar (the eldest brother’s tribe), then come the Thakuri Magar (the second eldest brother), then the Khas Magar (the third brother) and lastly the Kami Kami Magar (the youngest brother). Thus the Khas Magar became the Kham Magar of today, it is said.The Tarali Magar are said to have originated from the union of a male whose mother had fled the region of Jumla during a war of the Kalyal kings there. It is not known who her spouse was but this said to have arrived at Tarakot in a very pregnant condition and given birth to this boy. One day this boy sees a strange phenomenon in the jungle lake where he goes with his cattle. The lake was alleged to be filled with milk and surrounded by a large forest. The boy spotted 7 shining creatures like fairies bathing in the waters of the lake. He was enthralled and come to observe them daily. One day he told his mother about this strange sight and she advised him to touch youngest of these angels so that she would became human and thus he would be able to marry her. This happened and the boy brought the beautiful damsel to his mother, but when they asked her who she was she replied in a tongue, which was incomprehensible for them. The devi was offered some bread and she uttered the words ‘Tai khe nan’ slowlythey began to learn the language of this woman and Kaike was spread among themselves. The language was called Kaike meaning language of the Gods.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 04:45:53 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015