Culture

Over a hundred indigenous nationalities are said to inhabit the Himalayan foothills and plains of Nepal, and some of the diversity was on full display in the capital, Kathmandu, on Tuesday, marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. 

At a function organised by Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities, Prime Minister said that the government was doing “plenty of things for the greater good of indigenous nationalities”.

This year’s theme laid emphasis on women’s role in the preservation and transfer of knowledge.

Although it is often repeated that “Nepal is home to over 100 ethnic groups speaking as many languages”, official figures show otherwise.

As per Census 2011, indigenous nationalities constitute over 35.81 per cent of the total population. Sixty different groups are listed as indigenous nationalities.

The Census identified 123 languages, but now six more languages have been added – putting the total number at 129, according to Central Bureau of Statistics. The indigenous nationalities are scattered across the country, with 18 living in the mountains, 24 in the hills, six in the Inner Tarai and 12 in the Tarai region.

See NepalMinute photos of a colourful rally organised in Kathmandu on Tuesday: