“The Kirat Khambo Rai of Sikkim, Their Lifestyle and Custom at a Glance”

H.H. Risley in his book, "The Gazetteer of Sikkim (1884) while reflecting upon the total population of Sikkim, mentioned ‘Rai’, ‘Khambu’ and ‘Jimdar’ as different communities but in reality these names mean a single community which is popularly known as the Rai community.Rai is and was also known as Kirata, Khambu and Jimdar. The term Kirata has a wider connotation and the term is also found in Puran, Upadnishad or the old Vedas and it covers Rai, Limbu, Sunwar, Gurung, Manger, Tamang and all but presently only Rai community uses this term. As per the census of Sikkim in 1884, the total strength of Rai community was in third position, but Mr. Risley put it at random owing to the reason mentioned already.
The Rai People are gentle, simple by nature and hard working community who worship nature as their creator and protector. They call themselves Khambu, Kirawa or Rothungcha (Rodungcha). They were and are mainly cultivators who love to live in the hilly region and consider themselves as the offspring of Paruhang and Sunima (the God) who is also believed to have dwelled in the Himalayas.