Darma, Chaudangsi, and Raji

Abstract

Dharchula is a sub-divisional head-quarters of Pithoragarh district, where the main population consists of the Byangs (Byang-khung), Chaudangs (Bangba:mi) and Darma (Darma:) tribes. Other ethnic groups, who speak the Indo-Aryan languages Kumauni and Nepali, live side by side with these tribes. The Kumauni people call the tribals names such as Sauka:, Sakya:, and Sa:k. The river Kali flows to the eastern side of Dharchula town. This river serves as a natural boundary between India and Nepal. The township across the river in Nepal is known as Darchula, only a phonetic variation of the Indian word Dharchula. Nineteen kilometers upriver from Dharchula is the town of Tawaghat, at the confluence of the rivers Kali and Dhauli, the river Kali coming from the eastern side of Mount Puloma and the river Dhauli coming from the western side. Mount Puloma divides Byangs/Chaudangs Valley on the eastern side from Darma on the western side. The tribals in the valleys are both settled and migratory. In Darma Valley there are eighteen villages inhabited by the Darma tribe. This valley is divided into two geographical regions, Malla Darma (Upper Darma) and Talla Darma (Lower Darma). Talla Darma consists of eight villages which are settled permanently, whereas the ten villages of Malla Darma migrate to the lower regions around Dharchula and down to Jaulzibi, which is 28 kilometers downriver from Dharchula, and stay there during the winter months (October to April). During the winter months most of the people are engaged in the spinning and weaving of woolen clothes, carpets and blankets. During the summer they cultivate crops in the upper