The ethnic diversity of various peoples in Nepal add to beauty of the nation

The Bhutias of Nepal performing their traditional dance

There are about 61 diverse nationalities living in Nepal who have their own unique religion, language and dialects, and many have their own outstanding and intriguing ways of life. Some of these are elaborated below.

Bankariyas

The Bankariyas ethnic group is found in the villages of Handi Khola, Chourabesi, Sunkhla and the Chure Range of Makwanpur District. Like Chepangs, Bankariyas are also nomadic and forage for tubers for their food. Believed to be only about 400 even in the best of times, there are now only about five families huddled in sheds in the deep of jungles. They are close to Chepangs in religious practices and language. They gather wild asparagus and barter it for cereals in nearby villages. They like to fry and eat red ants.

Bahra Gaunle

The inhabitants of the Bahra Gauns (12 villages) above the Thak Khola and to the south of Lho Manthang in Mustang District are called the Bahra Gaunles. They resemble Lhopas in facial features , language and clothes. They also build their houses in the style of the Lhopas of Lho Manthang. They practice both Bon and Buddhism. There are 18 settlements in Bahra Gaun. Though they also work as industrial labors their main professions are farming and trade . sthe indigenous people found in and around the sacred Buddhist temple of Muktinath (the temple is popularly known a Chhume Gytsa in Tibetan speaking world) are also included among the Barha Gaunles.

Baramos

Baramos are from Gorkha while they are also found in Dhading, Makwanpur and Lalitpur districts. They claim to be close the Sunuwars of east Nepal, and seem to have close affinity with the Jirels also. The Baramo language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. In religious practice, they are close to the Magars. Many Baramos trace their language and culture to Burma (Myanmar) and the Burmese. They are mostly engaged in farming.

Bhujels / Ghartis

The Bhuji are in Baglung is considered as the ancestral place of the Bhujels. Nowadays they are scattered all over Nepal. They are close to the Magers. The religion and culture of these backward people are close to extinction, and Hindu influences have been encroaching on their ways of life. In religious matters they have affinities with the Magars while in language they are closer to the Chepangs. They are known as either Bhujel or Gharti in one place or the other. They are engaged in farming and in domestic chores.

Bhutias

In Nepal Bhutias are spread from Mahakali in the far west to the Kanchanjunga Range in the extreme east. They are found in Bajura and Darchufa of the far western development region and also in Humla, Dolpa, Surkhet and Mugu in the mid-Westren region. The ares of Mustang, Maang, Kaski and Tanahu of western region and also Himalayan heights of the middle regions and the east are also home to Bhutias. They are also found in towns and big cities of the mid-ranges. In general Bhutias are those people who do not belong to any particular or distinct stocks of indigenous people of Nepal Himalaya. They resemble Tibetans in most of their ways of living. However their statistics are not yet properly maintained. Trade and animal husbandry are the main occupations of the Bhutias.