Himalayan News Service

Ilam, June 5:

People of the Kirant community are flocking to their religious centre, Larumba, in Ilam district due to both political and social reasons. According to the Kirant Cholung Angish Mangena Service Central Committee, till last there were 792 households. Now the number has gone up to 1,137. Keher Singh Yonghang, chairman of the committee, said the number of the people coming in the area was rising. He added, however, he had no definite statistics on the number of residents in the area. Yonghang said religious faith was drawing these people to Larumba.

An ancient temple of the Kirant sect is located in Larumba of Banjho VDC-9. Atmananda, the disciple of the Kirant religious leader, Phalgunanda, also resides there. People come here from Ilam, Panchthar, Taplejung, Morang, Terhathum, Dhankuta, Khotang, Sunsari, Okhaldhunga and Jhapa and also from Darjeeling of India. Many among such have settled permanently while some have temporary cottages. Yonghang said most of the refugees depend on work on repair and construction of Damak-Rabi road for their survival. The committee has formed sub-committees to organise the increasing population in the area.