Tin Gaule Thakali (Yhulkosompaimhi)

Of the five villages of Mustang district, Syang, Thini, Chimang, Chhairo and Marpha, those indigenous people living in the three village of Syang, Thini and Chimang, who are called Syantan, Thintan or Thinel and Chimtan, are called Teengaule Thakali. Thakalis are of three types: Tamang Thakali, Mawtan Thakali or Yhulkosompaimhi. In other words, the Teengaules and Yulkhosompaimhi are particularly known as Syangtan, Chimtan and Thintan (Vinding, 1998:19-20). There are only 35 houselholds of Chimtans in Chimang, their original home or mainstay, and their population there is 151. Besides that, there are 11 households in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Marpha and Tanahu. In 2000, the total population of Chimtan was estimated at 257 (Jhendi Magar, BS2057). Likewise, there are 96 households and a population of 596 in Syang who have a population of 746 in Jomsom, Pokhara, Butwal and Kathmandu. Thintans have 97 households and a population of 599 in Thimi with an estimated total population of 549 in the whole of the kingdom (ibid).

The language of Teengaule Thakali falls within the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. It is slightly different from the languages of Marphalis, Tamang or Tamhang Thakalis. The christening of a newborn is done in a period of three to nine days and the process is performed by their own priest, Lama. Mother's brother has a prominent role in the first haircut of a child. Marriage is done in two ways: by formally asking the girls parents or by capturing the girl in question. The process of capture starts from giving a gift to the girl. The boy sends a fingerring to the girl through some friends and, if the girl agrees, the boy's side captures the girl when she comes out of her house to a nearby jungle, farm, water tap, etc (ibid). The practice of cross-cousin marriage is very much in vogue. Teengaule Thakalis are Buddhists. Bon tradition is still existent among some of them, particularly in Thini. If someone dies they perform mourning rites in accordance with Lama or Bon or Jhankri (Thom) tradition and a close relative lights the funeral pyre in cremating the corpse.

Teen Gaule Thakalis have their own traditional democratic political institutions like village assembly, government, rules and laws. The village assembly frames laws and appoints the government. The government provides security, punishes those who violate rules, protects property of the village, maintains public utilities like roads, bridges, etc, manages pastures and forests, conducts religious and social functions and administers justice. Like other Thakalis, their main festival is Toranla and Phalh. Although traditionally animal husbandry and agriculture are the main occupations of Teengaule Thakalis, trade has become their main occupation today. Like Dhikur of other Thakalis, a financial institution for loan and savings schemes of their own is found in the society of Teengaule Thakalis also. This financial institution is called ‘Breko' or Brehkhor (Vinding, 1998:128)..