Chhantyal

Chhantyal (Standard Tibetan: छन्त्याल) is an ethnic group among nearly seventy ethnicities existing in Nepal. Chhantyals are considered an indigenous group by the Government of Nepal. Most of the Chhantyal dwellings are concentrated in the western part of the country. Baglung and Myagdi are two districts in the Dhaulagiri Zone where most of the Chhantyals are living. Other districts with Chhantyal habitation include Mustang, Gulmi, Rukum, and Parbat. Nowadays, owing to the migration trend there is a notable population of the Chhantyals in Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, Rupandehi, Kaski, Dang and Chitwan districts. According to a survey conducted by its sole organization, Nepal Chhantyal Organization, the total population is 16,093 and 1,602 households . Traditionally Chhantyals have been living with other castes in harmony. In some villages Chhantyals are a major group whereas in other villages they are a minority. Chhantyals have their own culture, tradition, rituals, language, and religion.

Chhantyals were skilled miners. They used to mine copper ores. Most of the mining was done with little or no scientific tools but based on the knowledge handed down the generations. They could survey the area with taste and smell of the soil and rock to locate the copper ore. When found, they used to go far inside the hills and it took many years to complete. There are many caves, with long and big holes inside mountains, landslides, and cut hills which were made during the mining time. So most of the Chhantyal villages are named after the mine(khani) that was found there. They left their original profession more than half a century ago because of the Nepal Government's high tax rate which made mining less sustainable. Today, farming is a major occupation. Foreign remittance also plays a vital role. British and Indian Gurkha army, gulf countries, Malaysia, Japan, USA, Australia and Europe have been some of the destination for foreign employment in recent years.

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