Yakthung Costume

Just a few words about "Yakthung" dress. Yakthung also know as limbu is a tribe which belong to the kiranti nation. They are indigenous to hills and mountainous regions of Nepal. Some are scattered throughout the cities of Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Sikkim. Limbu's are rich in culture and even have their own language and script. 

History is crucial to know but right now who wants to know the history, right? Even i am feeling bored writing about it. Oopss!! Anyway let's describe the images below, the jewellery worn by gorgeous Limbu women. 

Limbu women traditionally wear sim (long material below waist) with a cholo (a blouse) which is made of dhaka. Phaee (cloth) wrapped around the waist to tie the sim, and can be found in different colour. They love wearing large gold and silver jewellery as you can see below. Different kinds of jewellery are worn on different occasions, ceremonies and festivals. You can still see in villages that old women still wears them with pride. Limbu women always looked elegant and created a unique identity all over the world.

 

The jewellery worn above is called Chandrahaar, Namloi or Yogakpa (limbu term for silver necklace) and Phangsese or Kantha is made of gold beads and glass beads. There are other jewellery such as Reji (ancient silver coin necklace) and Swageop (gold ring).

In the picture above is a silver bangles which is called lambangii. and silver kalli is worn at their ankles, which is really big. Believe me you will be shocked to see.   

Now, this is the one where most of the foreign people are fascinated and interested. I will try to describe what those ornaments are called. 

Nesse - a large flat designed gold earrings.

Gold mundri - nose ring.

Dhungri - nose stud which is designed as a fish.

Labaphung - crescent shaped gold ornament worn as a hair clip.

Those ornament worn by women above are only few, you can also find Sisiphung or Nekkhophung (flower shaped gold earrings) and Laskari in their ears, where women peirce their ears 5 to 6 times and wears a small ear stud.

I have got nothing to say now, anyway I hope you have found them interesting. 

Nugen

Pragyan Mudensong Samba