Walung people

The Walung people (also Walungpa) are the indigenous inhabitants of the region around Olangchung Gola.[1] They are descended from Tibetan settlers from the 7th century.[2][3] The language spoken by Walung people is Walungge language, similar to the dialect of the Tingay Dzong, Tibet and has 71% lexical similarity with the Lhasa Tibetan.[4][1] The primary occupation of the Walung people is trade and herding yaks and dzos.[5]

Walung people
(Approximately 20000) Approximately 20000 (including those of ancestral descent)
Regions with significant populations
Taplejung District, Kathmandu, Darjeeling, New York
Languages
Walungge language
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism
Related ethnic groups
Tibetan people

Culture

Walung people practice Nyingmapa Buddhism. A large monastery, Deki Chholing Gompa, was built 450 years ago sits on top of the main village of Olangchung Gola.[6] The chief deity at the monastery is Chenrezi (Avalokiteśvara).[5] The Walung people revere the monastery as their shelter from anything untoward. Historically, they would also invite Tibetan monks from Lhasa to provide teaching in this monastery.[5] Losar (Tibetan New Year) and Phutuk are the main festivals, which the people celebrate with full pomp and show.[1] Losar celebrates the Tibetan New Year. Phutuk reenacts an historical local battle.[3]

References
  1. "Walung". National Coalition Against Racial Discrimination (Nepal). Retrieved 2017-02-14.
  2. Wangyal, Sonam B. (Sep 22, 2009). "The Walung-ngas: a disappearing Tibetan tribe". The Tibet Journal. p. 576. ISSN 0970-5368. Retrieved 28 November 2019. As competition amongst these business houses became more intense they camped closer and closer and closer to Walung in order to be ahead of their trading rivals. Eventually this led to the Tibetans actually settling in Walung
  3. Clark, Micah (2019). "A Sociolinguistic Study of Walungge and Related Varieties Dhokpya and Thudam" (PDF). Tribhuvan University and SIL International. Retrieved 28 November 2019. the Halung settled in the area around the 7th century A.D. when a chief named Mao Rong Hang gained control of the Kirat land of eastern Nepal via an army of Tibetans. ... Apart from the centuries-old gompa, Walung is also known for the Futuk Festival. This annual festival is celebrated around late November and according to the website of the Halung community based in New York City (2012), "… relives the scenes of the battle between the Gyabo of Maksum and the Gyabo of Thudam"
  4. "Walungge". Ethnologue. Retrieved 2017-02-14. Walungge
  5. Hattaway, Paul (2004). "Peoples of the Buddhist World: A Christian Prayer Diary". William Carey Library. p. 346. ISBN 9780878083619. Retrieved 2017-02-14.
  6. Nebbs, Adam (6 Jan 2017). "Hong Kong firm offers 17-day tour of remote northeast Nepal". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 28 November 2019. the 450-year-old Deki Chholing Gompa, which houses a trove of sacred Buddhist texts and ancient thangkas


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