The Loba People of Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is bordered by China to the north and by India to the south, east and west. Nepal is commonly divided into three physiographic areas: the Mountain, Hill, Siwalik and Terai Region. North of Nepal region is the slope of the main section of the Himalayan range, including Everest and many other peaks higher than 8,000 m. Seven other of the world's ten highest mountains are located in Nepal: Lhotse, Makalu, Cho Oyu, Kanchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu. Of total land area, only 20 percent cultivatable. Deforestation severe problem; by 1988 forests covered approximately 30 percent of land area.

The Nepalese are descendants of three major migrations from India, Tibet, and North Burma and Yunnan via Assam. One of the Nepalese ethnic groups was the Loba people. The Loba live in the Mustang district of northern Nepal, at altitudes of between 11,000 and 13,000 feet. The Mustang district lies beyond the Annapurna massif and bordered on three sides by Tibet. Mustang region, the land of the Loba people, was closed to non-Nepalese (except for a brief time in the 1950s) until 1992. Mustang is a semi-independent kingdom within Nepal. The walled town of Lo Manthang is the capital of Mustang. Inside the walls it is a different world: old gompas (monasteries), finely carved wood pillars, beautiful images of Buddhist deities, and fine frescoes-a veritable treasures house of religion and cultures. Lo Manthang is translates from the Tibetan as "plains of aspiration". There are the world's largest collection of 15th-century mandalas and a golden Buddha nearly 50 feet high here.

The Loba are the Tibetan people who settled Mustang region. Socially, the Loba are divided into three groups. In 2000, their population was 29,400 inhabitans. Their religon was Tibetan Buddhism. The Loba are primarily farmers, shepherds, or merchants. In their culture, a person may have as many as three names. The first name is given by a lama (Tibetan monk). The second name will be the name from their parents at birth. Their third name, which is given them by the guru, or the Hindu spiritual teacher, is to be kept a secret. They also has unique culture, such as polyandry. It is common for a Loba woman to be married to several men, because they believe that there is less chance of a woman becoming a widow if she has many husbands.

The Loba are very religious people. Two Buddhist sects, the Kargyupa and the Sakyapa, are dominant here. The difference between them is often subtle and there may be political and philosophical differences. The Sakyapa were found in the 11th century. It followers ruled Tibet. While, the Kargyupa order (whispered transmission) is highly influenced by Tantric. It was founded in the 11th century by Marpa. The Loba celebrate four major religious festivals: Gine, Gensu, Gelung, and Nayuene. In Mustang region, monks and lamas were everywhere. Several times, in their house lamas were intoning prayers to protect a family from illness and evil.

Today, this region is open for foreign visitors. But there are special trekking permit US$ 700 per person for 10 days.