Yakhas, although they uphold different culture and traditions, are being called ‘Rai’ and ‘Limbus’. Their original residence is Chainpur of Sankhuwasabha district situated in the eastern part of the country.

Having their own civilisation and languages, Yakhas follow their own customs. However, they are yet to establish themselves with an individual status and sect of caste. During his research about the identification of these people, senior sociologist and anthropologist Dor Bahadur Bista says, “Between Khumbuwans (Rais) and Limbuwans (Limbus) of the eastern part of the country, there exists another type of cast known as Yakhas or Dewan.”

Now they have come to realise that their existence is in danger, they have slowly started to present themselves before the country in their traditional guise. Experts and relevant researchers have begun investigating them in detail. “Yakhas, who are in high positions in the civil service, prefer to be called Rais or Limbus and try to hide their own name,” Gopal Dewan, secretary of Kirat Yakkha Chhuma Sunsari executive committee, says. When the people belonging to the Yakhas community deal with official matters, they get in to trouble if they identify themselves as Yakhas, since they are an unfamiliar race. They are therefore compelled to keep a low profile.

Further to this, when the youths of the Yakha community go to a neighbouring country like India, they are asked, “Who are Yakhas? We don’t know.” In response, they are compelled to say, “ We are just like Rais or Limbus,” therefore compromising their real status. It is also difficulty to say what is their exact number, since they have already mingled with both Rais and Limbus. Not only this, but the Central Static Department which keeps the record of all the castes as well as nationalities existing in the country, has not even got record of ‘the Yakha people’. Their estimated population is 30 thousand.

Chainpur, a place located in the southern part of Sankhuwasabha district, is supposed to be the ancestral land of these people. Most of the places of the district have their names in Yakha language. According to some sociologists as well as anthropologists, the majority of Yakhas people are found to be living there. According to a book “Hamro Samaj Ek Aadhyan” written by sociologist and anthropologist Janaklal Sharma, the eastern part of Nepal from Arun to Mechi river and the big plot located west of Singhlila mountain or the place where Limbus are supposed to have been inhabiting, there is also another nationality living there apart from the Limbus, called Yakhas.

It is said that Yakhas have also scattered throughout Dhankuta, Jhapa, Sunsari and Ilam, as well as some other districts of Terai, whereas out of Nepal, they are also found to be living in places like Darjeeling, Sikkim and Assam. These Yakhas people, who have their own dialect, uphold 36 different titles and sub-titles. These people, like Kirats, worship mother nature.

Lilamani Dewan, central president of Kirat Yakha Chhuma, says that Yakhas should emerge as a separate nationality, separate from Rais and Limbus.

According to the data issued by the ministry of local development, there are altogether 60 ethnic groups existing in the country, but Yakhas are yet to be enlisted.