Doti
Doti (), also known as Doti region, Dotigarh (डोटीगढ़) as used in the Jagar (folk tales; जागर), in the Farwestern region of Nepal (Sudurpashchim Province), is a region situated between River Kali bordering Kumaon in the west and the Karnali river on the east. Doti was one of eight different princely states of the Katyuri Kingdom. Districts. Doti division covers the nine districts of Sudurpashchim Province. They are: Kailali and Kanchanpur District are Terai districts and rest are hilly districts. Etymology. The name Doti is believed to have originated from the word Doab which means the land area between the  confluence of two rivers. Other view is that the original name of Doti was = + or ( meaning Hindu God and meaning the place of re-creation or the place of attaining a meditation in Sanskrit). History. Doti was an ancient kingdom in far western region of Kumaon which was formed after the disintegration of the Katyuri Kingdom of Kumaon around the 13th century. Doti was one of eight different princely states Katyuri Kingdom was divided into Eight for their eight Prince and became different independent Kingdom. Later on, the whole land between Ramganga on the west (Kumaon) and the  Karnali on the east (which divides the far western region from other parts Nepal), came under the Raikas after the origin of Raikas of Katyuris in Doti. "Brahma Dev Mandi" at Kanchanpur District of Mahakali Zone was established by Katyuri king Brahma Dev. Raikas of Doti. Niranjan Malla Dev was the founder of Doti Kingdom around the 13th century after the fall of the Katyuri Kingdom. He was the son of Last Katyuris of united Katyuris kingdom. Kings of Doti were called Raikas (also Rainka Maharaj). Later on Raikas, after defeating the Khas Malla of Karnali Zone, were able to  establish a strong Raika Kingdom in Far Western Region and Kumaun which was Doti. So far, the historical evidences of following Raikas have been discovered: Mogul invasion on Far-Western Nepal. During the period of Akbar's rule in the 16th century, the Moguls had attacked the Raikas of Doti. They invaded Ajemeru, capital of the Raika Kingdom. Ajemeru is now in Dadeldhura District of far western region of Nepal. Hussain Khan, army chief of Akbar residing in Lucknow had led the attack. According to `Abd al-Qadir Bada'uni (c. 1540 - 1615), Indo-Persian historian during Mughal Empire, Mughal  Army chief of Lukhnow, Hussian Khan, lured by the wealth and treasures of the kingdom of the Raikas, wanted to plunder the state, this being the motive behind the assault; but they did not succeed. Gorkha Invasion. The historic place of war between the Doti Kingdom and Nepal (Gorkha Kingdom) during the period of Gorkha Expansion in 1790, according to the history of Nepal, is "Nari-Dang" which lies on the bank of the Seti River and Dumrakot was the base of the Doti Kingdom during the fighting against the Gorkhalis. In the war with the Gorkhalis, the Doti kingdom  was defeated and Doteli King fled to Pilibhit. Khairgarh-Singhai State. Raja Deep Shahi was expelled from Nepal in 1790 A.D and on arriving to Terai of Oudh (now Lakhimpur Kheri District of Uttar Pradesh of India) he established Khairgarh-Singhai State in Khairigarh under British India. Kanchanpur Praganna (now the District of Kaillali and Kanchanpur of Nepal) was also the parts of his State or "Zamindari". He succeeded in defeating the Banjaras rulers of Khairigarh and establishing himself not only in that Pargana but also in parts of Bhur Geography. The Far-Western Development Region has the Mid-Western  Development Region to the east, Uttar Pradesh (India) to the south, Kumaon (India) to the west and the Tibet Autonomous Region (People's Republic of China) to the north. The highest mountain in the region is the Api Peak, with high; it is in the Darchula district. Other high mountain is Saipal, high, in the Bajhang district. The most important rivers in the Far-Western Development Region are the Seti and the Mahakali ( "Kali" or "Sharda" in India) rivers; both rivers are tributaries of the Ghaghara or Karnali river. Demographics. It is the smallest Development Region of Nepal with an  area of and also with the lowest population with 2,552,517 people living there; its population density is the second lowest of all the regions, with 130.6 persons/km. Main ethnic group are Khas/Chhetri making total population of 76%. Language and culture. The major local languages are Dotiyali and Kumauni, each spoken respectively by and people according to the 2011 census. Inhabitants of two terai districts Kailali District and Kanchanpur District speak different languages. Rana-tharu and Dangaura-tharu speaks their own language. Language spoken by Rana-tharus is Hindi Dialect and Dangaura-tharu speaks Tharu Language. Traditional dance and  songs Chholiya, Bhada, Jhora Chapeli, Rung Culture of Rung people (Sauka), Baira song, Deuda, Chait and Jagar are part of the culture. Jagara and Chait tales of bravery is most important culture in Doti since Katyuri period. Chait tales about bravery of Senapati Piri Bohara( Doti) is singing in Gaura parva . Jhusia Damai of Baskot of Baitadi District (stayed in Dharchula India) was famous Jagar singer. The major festivals of Doti are mainly Gora (Gamra), Kumauni holi, Bishpati, Harela, Raksha Bandhab (Rakhi) Dashin, Diwali, Makar Sankranti, and others.