An endangered language. A living culture.

01 — Dewas Rai Language

The Dewas Rai language is an Indo-Aryan language distinct from the Tibeto-Burman Kiranti Rai languages spoken by other Rai sub-groups. Listed as endangered (Ethnologue DWZ): it is spoken as a first language by all adults in the community, but not by all young people, and is not taught in schools. The organization works to document, preserve, and teach this unique linguistic heritage through workshops, publications, and intergenerational learning programs.

02 — Traditions & Festivals

The Dewas Rai community celebrates a rich tapestry of festivals and traditions rooted in ancestral Kirat animistic and nature-worship practices. Key celebrations include Ubhauli (uphill migration festival), Udhauli (downhill migration festival), and various seasonal agricultural rituals. These festivals feature traditional prayers, community feasts, and cultural performances.

03 — Dress, Music & Dance

Traditional Dewas Rai attire reflects the community's connection to the hills and forests. Men traditionally wore dhaka topi (woven caps) and daura-suruwal, while women wore distinctive woven shawls and jewelry. Traditional instruments include the dhol (drum), jhyamta (cymbals), and various wind instruments. The Sakela dance, performed during Ubhauli and Udhauli, mimics the movements of birds, animals, and agricultural activities.

Music, Attire & Dance Styles

Traditional dress, the dhol and jhyamta instruments, and the Sakela dance that mimics birds, animals and agricultural activities.