text: The Mundum The "mundum" is the oral tradition among the Rai and it is also a long-standing, and ancient, though not unchanging, ritual practice. Mundum is also addressed as "Ridum" "Muddum" or "Pelam". Iiterally, "Muna" means "Man" and "dum" means talk" which can be said speaking of man or oral talking as a hole the mundum is an oral tradition. so, it may differ in place to place. The term mundum is generally pronounced as mundhum by Nepali speakers. Many researchers have documented the term mundhum in their research. The /dh/ sound in mundum is not found in many Kirati languages. If it is found in other Kirati languages, it often is a loan sound. The term mundhum thus might be of Nepali influence. So, the native term is "mundhum”. In this case, the term mundum changes into the mundhum because the alveolar is changed into the dental aspirated /dh/ because it might be the influence of the Nepali language.                                                    Although, the concept is the same, the term mundum has different variants among different subgroups of Rai. Gaenszle (2002: 40–42), who has done pioneering work in the field of Kirati ritual, has extensively studied about it and collected different terms, which are as follows:
  Mundum: Chintang, Bantawa, Belhare
  Muddum/Mudum: Mewahang, Bantawa, Sampang
  Mindum/Pe-lam: Yamphu
  Ridum: Kulung
  Dum : Chamling
  Pe-lam: Lohorung
  Rai Tribes and Clans
  Rai have distinct cultural tradition. The community is divided into different subtribes called "Thar" all have their own distinctive language or dialect this division of Rai into various subtribes allows for the minor alterations in the ritualistic practices while the essence of the traditions remains homogeneous largely. within the "Thar" there are clan division called "Pacha"(pa=papa/father and cha=children). clans are exogamous. There is further classification within the Pacha known as "Samet". Samet traces the relationship of a person to his/her ancestor. Pacha and Samet is main ritual identity of Rai, which is compulsory needed in every ritual performance.