Kirateen Apr 2026

The Kirateen are proving that you can be a modern professional while still honoring the spirit of the mountain. The story of the Kirateen is not just an ethnic history; it is a lesson in sustainability. They have lived on the same slopes for 2,500 years without destroying the forests because their religion demands respect for every animal and tree.

Because it is oral, the rhythm and chanting of the Mundhum are considered the heartbeat of Kirat culture. The Kirateen are animists. They do not worship idols in temples; rather, they worship nature—the sun, the moon, the river, and specific sacred stones ( Sila ). kirateen

Even today, the Pashupatinath Temple —the holiest Hindu shrine in Nepal—has a priest who must be a Bhandari (of Kirat origin), honoring that ancient legacy. Unlike Hindus who follow the Vedas or Christians who follow the Bible, the Kirateen follow the Mundhum (or Mundum ). The Kirateen are proving that you can be

According to the Gopal Raj Vamsavali (a ancient chronicle of Nepal), the Kirateen kings reigned for approximately 1,225 years (roughly 800 BCE to 300 CE). Their most famous king, , is a mythical hero who is said to have attended the great Kurukshetra war (the setting of the Bhagavad Gita ). The city of "Yala" (the original Newari name for Patan) is named after him. Because it is oral, the rhythm and chanting