Open AccessThe Meche of Nepal and their Life Cycle
Author(s) -
Dipen Basumatary
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
addaiyan journal of arts humanaties and social sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2581-8783
DOI - 10.36099/ajahss.2.8.1
Subject(s) - indigenous , ethnic group , worship , agrarian society , ethnology , geography , blessing , socioeconomics , sociology , history , anthropology , political science , law , ecology , archaeology , agriculture , biology
The Meche community is one of the indigenous tribalcommunities of Nepal. They have been living on the bank of Mechi Riverin the eastern border of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.The majority ofthe Meche people are concentrated in the Jhapa District from timeimmemorial. They are considered as the subgroup of the Bodo community.It is considered as one of the endangered ethnic tribes numbering 10 out of59 indigenous communities of Nepal. They worship a commonly growncactus plant called ‘Siju or Sijou’ (Euphorbia roylena; Euphorbiaceae) inthe name of BathouBwrai (God). They are agrarian and living with asimple life. The economic condition of Mechecommunity is not sound butthey manage their daily meals well by various means. TheMeche followsage-old cultural traditions over the years. They have a rich cultural heritagewith their own identity and a way of life. They have a religion, language,literature, customs and traditions etc. The majority of the Mechepeopleconcentrated in the Jhapa District of Nepal. The Meche follows an age-oldcultural tradition over the years. They have a well organized religion,culture, customs and traditions. Hence, the present study would focus on their ethnic background; societyand their life cycle i.e. birth rites, marriage and death rites.