Gurung (exonym; Nepali: गुरुङ) or Tamu (endonym; Gurung: རྟམུ) are a indigenious people of Nepal living in the hills and mountains of Gandaki Province of Nepal.[4] Among Nepal's various ethnic groups the Gurung people known as an ancient community, are typically found in hilly and mountainous regions and are considered to be descendants of the Gurkha. The Gurung people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group who trace their ancestry to the North in Tibet. They are one of the main Gurkha tribes. They believe that until the 15th century they were ruled by a Gurung king.[5] Gurungs speak Tamu Kyi which is a Tibeto-Burman language derived from Sino-Tibetan language family, they have their own script called Khema Lipi though very few Gurung know about it, in recent time some Gurung organization are trying to revive Khema Lipi by teaching new generation, history and details related to their culture and tradition is passed on one generation to the other in oral form.
The majority of Gurung villages are found in the foothills of the Himalayas. The village of Lakpra, Barpak, Bhujung, sikcles, Ghandruk of Gandaki region apparently has a historical significance to the Gurungs. The Gurungs reside among the central hills at elevations ranging from 1,050 to 2,100 meters. Hence, it is only natural for Gurungs to inhabit the Annapurna region.[6]
Gurung women in Tamu Lhosar celebrations
As mentioned before, it is believed that the Gurung people migrated from North. Their forefathers crossed Himilayan range before entering Nepal through Mustang. They arrived in Nepal before Buddhism spread to Tibet. Their religion combines Animistic rituals and Buddhist beliefs.
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