Khas people Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Khas/Parbatiya/Pahari
खस/पर्वत्या/पहाडी/गोर्खालि
Total population
Sample photo of Khas man in the scholarly work at Library of India Sample photo of Khas women in the scholarly work at Library of India
c. 16 million
Regions with significant populations
Nepal
Languages
Nepali language (Khas Kura) as mother tongue
Religion
Hinduism

Khas people are also called Paharis (yellow) are widely found throughout Nepal

The Khas people (Nepali: खस जाति) are a large group of people from the Indo-Aryan family. They mainly live in Nepal. They speak the Nepali language, which they call Khas Kura. This language is part of the Indo-Aryan language family.

Sometimes, Khas people are also known as Parbatiya, Pahari, or Gorkhali. They are a very important group in Nepal. About 31% of Nepal's population are Khas people. Also, almost two-thirds of the people working in the government are Khas. Today, the word "Khas" is not used as much. Instead, Khas people often call themselves by their specific group names. These names include Bahun, Kshetri, Sanyasi, Kami, and Damai.

History of the Khas People
Modern Khas Life and Culture
Khas Family Names
Images for kids
See also

History of the Khas People

The Khas people have an Indo-Aryan background. This means their ancestors came from a region that includes parts of modern-day India and Iran. The Khas group includes several smaller communities. These are the Bahun (who are Khas Brahmin, or priests), Chhetri and Thakuri (who are Khas Kshatriyas, or warriors and rulers). Other groups are Sanyasi, Kami, Damai, Gandharbha/Gaine, Badi, and Sarki people. Many historians believe that the powerful Thakuri and Chhetri groups were like the Khas Rajputs. Rajputs were a brave warrior class in ancient India.

Modern Khas Life and Culture

A Khas Jhakri (shaman) performing a ritual.

Most Khas people follow the Hindu religion. They also have special traditions where they worship old gods called Masto gods. These gods are important to their families and communities.

Khas Family Names

The Khas people have many different family names. These names often show which group a person belongs to.

Bahun, Chhetri & Thakuri Family Names

Some common family names for Bahun, Chhetri, and Thakuri Khas people include:

Acharya
Adhikari
Aryal
Basnet/Basnyat
Bhandari
Bhattarai
Bista/Bisht
Budathoki
Chand
Chhetri
Dahal
Devkota
Dhakal
Gautam
Ghimire
Karki
Khadka
Koirala
Kunwar
Oli
Pandey
Poudel/Paudyal
Rana
Rijal
Regmi
Shah
Shahi
Singh
Thapa
Upadhyay

Sanyasi (Dasnami) Family Names

Some family names for Sanyasi Khas people are:

Bharati
Giri
Puri
Yogi

Khas Dalit Family Names

Some family names for Khas Dalit people include:

Badi
Bishwakarma/B.K.
Damai
Kami
Pariyar
Sarki

Images for kids

Khas Tribe of Nepal
Stone script of Damupal near Kartikhamba in Dailekh dated 1038 (981 A.D.) is claimed to be the first stone script in Nepali Language.
Vishnu and Lakshmi Garuda art at the time of the Khasha Lohara dynasty, 11th century CE, Jammu and Kashmir.
Copper Inscription by King of Doti, Raika Mandhata Shahi at Saka Era 1612 (शाके १६१२) (or 1747 Bikram Samvat) in old Khas language using Devanagari script
Khas Kingdom
Mukhtiyar Bhimsen Thapa, the widely accepted first Prime Minister of Nepal