The Kusunda are a people group of Nepal. They are also called Banmanchhe and Banraja. They are nomads but they hunt animals in the jungle for root foods. In earlier days they collected taxes from other people groups but are now an endangered tribe.

Some of the Kasunda live in the western part of the country and some live in Tanahu, Dang, Rolpa, Surkhet and Pyuthan.

They have become more isolated because of the changing of clan names and marriages with other castes. They live near to jungles. About half speak the Kusunda language. They have a language of their own which may be Tibeto-Burmen or linked to Burusasky.

The Kusundas sacrifice wild fowl when a baby is born to the family god. Birth pollution is observed by relatives on the eleventh day. Marriage is not done with the family clan. They bury their dead. They have now begun to do funeral rites.

These days nearly everybody of the Kusunda have an inter-caste or inter-tribe marriage. For festivals they celebrate the first day of the month of Magha. Hunting is their main work which they are very good at as they are with vegetation. They are not landowners as they have only recently begun agriculture as their work.

The Kusunda prefer to live isolated from others and are likely to be the most endangered aboriginal ethnic people group in the country of Nepal.

They are Hindus and they also worship nature.

* Scripture Prayers for the Kusunda in Nepal.

Pray that the fact that the Kusunda are endangered will cause them to look to Jesus Christ for everlasting salvation.

www.ncard.org.np/categorydetail/gangai.html