page_title: Limbu people
hierarchical_section_title: Limbu people
caption_attribution_description: English: This image is from the book, The People of India, a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan, originally prepared under the authority of the government of India, and reproduced. by J. Forbes Watson and John William Kaye between 1868 - 1875.
context_page_description: The Limbu or Yakthung are Kirati people indigenous and native to the Himalayan Limbuwan region of the Indian subcontinent, what is now modern-day Eastern Nepal, Northern Sikkim, Kalimpong India and Western Bhutan.
  The original name of Limbus is Yakthung, Yakthumba or Yakthungba. Limbu males and Limbu females are called "Yakthumma" or "Yakthungma". In Ancient texts believe that "Yakthung" or "Yakthum" is a derivative from China and some interpret its meaning as the "Yaksha winner". In Limbu language it means "heroes of the hills", which connotation with ancient Kiratas. Subba is also a title given by the Shah Kings to only Limbu village chiefs. Subba was not an indigenous Yakthung terminology, but now they are almost interchangeable terms.
  Their history is stated to be written in a book called Bhongsoli also known as Vanisavali of which copies are kept in some of the most ancient families. There are hundreds of Limbu Clans and Tribes. Each Limbu clans are classified under their Tribe or subnational entity or according to their place of origin.
  The Chinese text Po-ou-Yeo-Jing, translated in 308 AD, refers to the Yi-ti-Sai, a name which is an exact equivalent of Kiratas.
context_section_description: The Limbu (ᤕᤠᤰᤌᤢᤱ) (exonym) or Yakthung (endonym) (IPA: [yɑkthuŋ]) are Kirati people indigenous and native to the Himalayan Limbuwan region of the Indian subcontinent, what is now modern-day Eastern Nepal, Northern Sikkim , Kalimpong India  and Western Bhutan.
  The original name of Limbus is Yakthung, Yakthumba or Yakthungba (ᤕᤠᤰᤌᤢᤱ). Limbu males and Limbu females are called "Yakthumma" or "Yakthungma". In Ancient texts believe that "Yakthung" or "Yakthum" is a derivative from China and some interpret its meaning as the "Yaksha winner". In Limbu language it means "heroes of the hills" (Yak - hills, thung or thum - heroes or mighty warriors), which connotation with ancient Kiratas.  Subba is also a title given by the Shah Kings to only Limbu village chiefs. Subba was not an indigenous Yakthung terminology, but now they are almost interchangeable terms.
  Their history is stated to be written in a book called Bhongsoli also known as Vanisavali of which copies are kept in some of the most ancient families. There are hundreds of Limbu Clans and Tribes. Each Limbu clans are classified under their Tribe or subnational entity or according to their place of origin.
  The Chinese text Po-ou-Yeo-Jing, translated in 308 AD, refers to the Yi-ti-Sai (barbarians bordering on the north), a name which is an exact equivalent of Kiratas. 
  The Limbus were also one of the earliest inhabitants of Sikkim. Their estimated population of 700,000 is mainly centred in the districts of Sankhuwasabha, Tehrathum, Dhankuta, Taplejung, Morang, Sunsari, Jhapa, Panchthar, Ilam, Kathmandu, Nakhipot, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur in Nepal. These are all within the Mechi and Kosi Zones or "Limbuwan". Portions of the Limbu population are also located in the east and west districts of Sikkim. A smaller number are scattered throughout the cities of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland and in north and south Sikkim, Bhutan, Burma, and others have recently migrated to the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, the United States and many other countries.
caption: Limboo group, aboriginal, trans-Himalayan
exif: {"Image Software": "Google", "Image ExifOffset": "46", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0220", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "499", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "760"}