Customary Laws and Ritual Practices of 10 Limbuwan 17 Thum
The Limbu, a sedentary agriculturalist people, primarily inhabit the hills of eastern Nepal east of the Arun River, southwestern Sikkim west of the Teesta, and adjacent areas of Darjeeling district (Van Driem 2025: 28). They refer to themselves as “Yakthung” and are also scattered across other regions of the world, including Assam, Burma, Bhutan, Manipur, Hong Kong, the UK, and beyond. The Limbu have a rich cultural heritage, with a long-standing tradition of reciting Mundhums, performing unique rituals, and observing ceremonies in distinctive ways.
Like every community, the Limbu have their own system of societal norms, customs, and laws that guide daily life. Over generations, their ancestors developed a set of customary laws and practices that continue to influence Limbu society today. We have compiled a few of these important customary laws that were developed and upheld by the Limbu Ancestors.
1. CHUMLUNG AND SAWA YETHANG
The literal meaning of the word Chumlung comes from the Yakthung Limbu term “Chumma”, which means a group of people who come together to discuss matters of concern, solve conflicts, or come up with a solution for social problems or natural calamities that have occurred or are occurring. The second part, “Lung lepma” means the act of erecting a stone to signify the decision-making of the people who have gathered for the purpose of solving conflicts or coming up with a solution. It is from this practice of coming together and placing a stone as a symbol of resect to the agreement, the tradition of Chumlung emerged.
In the broader Limbu context, Sawa Yethang refers to all descendants of the ancient Yakthung Limbu ancestors. Sawa Yethang Chumlung, therefore, means the collective gathering or council of all the descendants, where the members come together to deliberate on issues, uphold traditions, and establish order in society. It is the traditional mechanismthrough which the Limbu people structured their society, addressed their differences, and promoted unity among all the Sawa Yethang descendents.
2. Tumyang / Tumyanghang
The elderly people who had profound knowledge of Mundhum, customs, and social norms in a Yakthung Chumlung (community gathering) were called Tumyang or Tumyahang. Tumyang is the highest decision-making authority in the Yakthung Chumlung. Their responsibilities include resolving disputes, imposing punishments, making decisions on Kaai Sodhok (invalid marriage, relationship between siblings or relatives), collecting jaari and overseeing the social behaviour of the people. Apart from resolving disputes, Tumyang also oversees marriage, death ceremonies, division of property and boundaries. Their role is crucial in the following rituals and ceremonies: Chokphung (adopting someone into the lineage) and Shasing Lapma (adoption of a child).
3. Chokphung Thim
Chokphung is the ritual of the Yakthung Limbu community, which involves the acceptance of people from the outside community into the Yakthung community through the decision of the Chumlung. Through this ritual, any individual belonging to another tribe, clan, caste, or even a captive taken during the wars could be formally accepted as a Limbu and treated as an equal member of the society, receiving full clan membership, social status, land rights, inheritance rights, and participation in Chumlung (communal affairs).
The ritual of Chokphung is conducted by the Tumyangs, the respected elders of the community. The individual, who is to become a member of the community, takes an oath truthfully while touching dubo grass and a stone (Sam-yok Lung-yok Thim). The individual is then purified by the use of Sing-dum Pakwa (clean water collected on the split end of a tree stump mixed with bamboo water) and Lung-dum Pakwa (clean water collected in a stone depression). After the purification ritual, the individual is then informed, "From today, your lineage has changed." The ritual is then complete with the consumption of chiso chhapni (cool millet beer) and the consumption of rato achano (red meat). After the purification, it is declared: “From today, your lineage has changed.” To complete the ritual, they drink chiso chhapni (cool millet beer) and eat rato achano (red meat). This process not only grants full acceptance but also symbolizes the person’s integration into the social, cultural, and judicial life of the Limbu community.
The ritual of Chokphung is conducted by the Tumyangs, the respected elders of the community. The individual, who is to become a member of the community, takes an oath truthfully while touching dubo grass and a stone (Sam-yok Lung-yok Thim). The individual is then purified by the use of Sing-dum Pakwa (clean water collected on the split end of a tree stump mixed with bamboo water) and Lung-dum Pakwa (clean water collected in a stone depression). After the purification ritual, the individual is then informed, "From today, your lineage has changed." The ritual is then complete with the consumption of chiso chhapni (cool millet beer) and the consumption of rato achano (red meat). After the purification, it is declared: “From today, your lineage has changed.” To complete the ritual, they drink chiso chhapni (cool millet beer) and eat rato achano (red meat). This process not only grants full acceptance but also symbolizes the person’s integration into the social, cultural, and judicial life of the Limbu community.