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Lugum Village
Introduction:
Lugum Village is situated at about 7,500 feet height from the sea level in Mid-Western Region of Nepal in Rukum District of Rapti Zone. The main village is consist of three Wadas 4, 5 and 6 of Kankri Village Development Committee. Other two wadas 7 Rujikhola and 9 Panchase are also part of Lugum. The neighbouring villages of Lugum are Taka-Sera (North), Kol-Garkhani (North-West), Kankri (West), Thabang and Uwa (South) and Bhalkot (East). Lugum valley is situated between two mountain ranges lying East-West. Lugum Khola (River) runs calmly and silently from East to West through the valley and meets Sani Bheri River near Rukumkot. Population of Lugum village is about 3,000 consist of approax 500 homes. More than 80% of people living in Lugum are Magars (Pun, Gharti, Budha and Roka) and rest are Kami, Damai and few Gurungs as well. Kham is the native language spoken by all Lugumyal people. Agriculture is main occupation and main crops are maize, barley and potatoes. Traditionally ship herding was the main source of income in the past but now it is rapidly dissapearing since the new generation is lured away by the overseas opportunities. There is a higher secondary school and other three primary schools in the village. Since it's remoteness and lack of strict measures the standard of the education in local schools is far below the national average.
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"Lukum" or "Lugum" ?
 Lugum is called "Lukum" only in government offices and by non Kham speaking people. But locally and all Kham speaking people call it "Lugum" Probably it derived from ancient word "Lu" meaning Sheep and "Gum" meaning the direction or place you rest your head when sleeping. Hence resting place of sheep. Because in the past sheep herding was a main occupation and there used to be thousands of sheep in Lugum. According to legend many years ago the village was in "Bangkona", a flat valley between the school and current village. In those time people used to keep their sheep at the place where the cuurent village is located. So they probably called it "Lu-Gum" means sheep's place. Later on their pets such as chicken and dogs started to go to "Lu-Gum" at twilight and stay overnight there. People considered it as a sign of good omen and they moved the village to the current location and later it became Lugum village. Also people from Lugum are called "Lugumyal" not "lukumyal" therefore Lugum and Lugumyal is our original and proper identity and we would like to keep and maintain it. |
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Where Lugumyals do came from?
No one knows who arrived first in Lugum but it is clear that Lugum is the junction point of two nomadic tribes from East and West. According to legend Pun Magar and Gharti Magars arrived from the East and Budha Magar and Roka Magars arrived from the South-West. The land owned by Pun Magars to the East and Budha Magars to the West from the village is the evidence of this theory.
 We don't know much about Budhas and Rokas but according to the legend, the ancestor of Puns was a King and the ancestor of Ghartis was his priest. When the King lost a battle to a neibouring King he fled from Bahra Darlam, Sinjakot with his followers and settled in place called Kunde (a place to the Norh-East from Lugum on the way to Dhorpatan). Later on the ancestor of Gharti fell in love with a daughter of the King and they fled to Maikot and settled there with their relatives. During an autumn season the King arrived at Lamakyang (a place East to Lugum) while hunting and found a big flat area. The land was heavily dug by wild boars in search for food and he saw some wheat on that land before returning home. When he revisited that place in the late spring he found that the wheat was ready to harvest with very good grains on it while wheat grown in Kunde was still green and he realised that this place was much fertile for cultivation. So he moved to Lamakyang with his followers and settled there. Later on they moved again to Bangkona (a flat place between current village and school) in Lugum. To support this story you can still find some pieces of old ceramic and ornaments in that area.
Later on the King forgiven his daughter and Gharti daughter in law and invited them to come to Lugum for settlement. Some of Ghartis were still feared of the King and could not dare to come to Lugum and settled forever in Maikot (you can still find Gharti Magars at Harnubang village in Maikot) but the Kings daughter and daughter in law came to Lugum with some close relatives and settled there. Later on the village moved permanently to the current location. |
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Culture And Tradition
Lugum is rich of culture and tradition. Jhankri Mela is one of famous and unique festival celebrated  only in Lugum by local shamans. Bhume is another big festival celebrated in Lugum and by the most of Kham speaking people. Apart from that other major festivals celebrated by Lugumyal people are Dashai, Tihar and other Hindu festivals. Lugumyal people mainly worship their native gods according to  their cast root. Bhimsen, Siddha Baraha, Bahara are the main gods. They also worship their ancestors every year which is called "Pitar Puja".
Many years ago there were famous dances such as "Nachane" and "Jholyani". But because of modernization people stopped to follow the traditions and "Nachane", "Jholyani" are part of history now. Many other traditions are disappearing very fast too. Lugumyal Society is aiming to revive and preserve those lost culture and traditions and save other culture and traditions from being disappear.
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lugumyal.com is sponsored & administrated by Bir Prasad Gharti Magar |
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