Sherpa: History, Culture, and the Backbone of Everest
Nepal is a diverse country in every aspect, be it the landscape formations from the Terai to the Himalayas or the people living in those areas. As per the National Population and Housing Census, 2021, Nepal has 142 ethnicities living within the country. And among these ethnicities, Sherpas remain one of the most known groups of people in the entire world. They are the backbone of mountaineering and trekking, especially in the region of Everest. On this blog, we will learn more about the Sherpas, the people of the mountains of Nepal.
Who are the Sherpas?
When people hear the word “Sherpa,” most automatically assume that they are the mountain guides and porters on Everest who guide the trekkers and mountaineers. Living amidst the Himalayan region of eastern Nepal are the ethnic group of Sherpa. They are the indigenous people of the Khumbu. They have their own community, culture, and traditions, which are heavily influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. And last but not least, their mountaineering skills are what make them stand out to the world.
History of the Sherpas
The Sherpa people are not only the ethnic group found in the eastern part of Nepal but also Tibet, as well. In fact, they are originally of Tibetan descent and migrated to Nepal around the 15th or 16th centuries. The name Sherpa comes from a Tibetan word "sher-war,” which means “people of the east.”
The Sherpas are now mainly the inhabitants of the Solukhumbu district of the Everest region. Over time, they have developed their own language, culture, and traditions. They even practice Tibetan Buddhism and Animism as their religion and have built many monasteries.
Even though Sherpas come from a long line of very renowned mountaineers, they didn't initially begin scaling the mountains until the 20th century, as they believed the mountains to be their God. There are still many mountains forbidden to climb, which they believe to be very sacred.
The name “Sherpa” began gaining traction after the first successful summit of Everest was done in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. Now the word “Sherpa” has become synonymous with the word “mountain guide.”
The Culture of Sherpa
The culture of Sherpa is heavily influenced by Tibetan norms. As the ancestors of the current Sherpa communities are believed to have migrated from Tibet around six centuries ago, the Tibetan influences can be seen in the language they speak, the festivals they celebrate, and most of all, the Tibetan Buddhism religion they follow. They even follow the Tibetan lunar calendar for their important ceremonies, such as the Mani Rimdu Festival and Loshar.
Even the traditional dress worn by Sherpa has resemblance to the Tibetan traditional dress. The long garments are made of wool and are known as Bakhu, or Kitycow. They also wear a Tetung, which is an outer jacket. Women are traditionally dressed in Tongkok, or thick wool dresses, and Matil, or colorfully striped aprons; however, only married women are permitted to wear Pangden, or front aprons.
The Sherpa communities put a heavy emphasis on social gatherings and building a bond with everyone in the community. Elders are given bigger status and are treated with the utmost respect along with a very warm hospitality for guests. Tibetan Buddhism is at the core of everything they do.
Famous Sherpa Cuisines
As with every ethnic community in Nepal, Sherpas too have their own unique taste of food and dishes exclusive to their lifestyle. Being the people of the mountains, their food is filled with rich, hot broth and hearty to keep the body warm in the cold temperatures. Thukpa and Thenduk are similar yet different. Thukpa is a noodle soup with flavorful broth filled with vegetables and spices, whereas Thenduk is more of a stew with chunks of meat, potatoes, and dough cooked to perfection.
Aloo Roti, or potato pancakes, which is another known delicacy. It is like a flatbread made with potatoes, flour, and eggs and served with a spicy sauce that makes your tongue tingle with the savory and hot spice.
Sherpas: Their Contribution and Significance in the Mountaineering Community
The Sherpa people have always been there from the beginning in the Everest Region. Long before summiting Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak became sort of a trend. They did not summit Mount Everest, which is known as Chomolungma, because they could not, but because they respected the mountains as more than a raised rock from the ground. The name Chomolungma means “the goddess mother of Earth,” and they worship the mountains.
While the first successful summit of Everest was done in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, the first attempt to summit Everest was done in 1922 by George Mallory and his British expedition team. Even during this time, the Sherpa were the ones who helped in showing the route and carrying the equipment for their team.
But it was the first successful summit that made the noise of the name Sherpa to the entire world and now they are considered one of the most respected and important people in the mountaineering community.
Pasang Lhamu Sherp became the first female Nepalese to successfully summit Everest and likewise, many Sherpas over the years have achieved soaring heights in the world of mountaineering that are not limited to Everest but the entire world.
Some of the names that you might have been accustomed to hearing if you follow mountaineering are Nima Rinji Sherpa, who became the youngest person to climb all fourteen peaks above 8000 meters. Kami Rita Sherpa, who holds the record for the most times anyone has summited Everest.
Their contribution in making Nepal known all over the world is not something to take lightly. And not only in the world of mountaineering but trekking as well. The Sherpas are excellent guides for expeditions and trekking. It is because of them that the mountain expedition and trekking have become what they are today. It has become more accessible and easier to successfully complete the entire journey because of them.
People from all over the world are now able to do trekking and expeditions in different parts of Everest because it was made possible by the Sherpa communities. And it is not only limited to them being a guide for mountaineering and trekking but also the hospitality services provided in the trails of popular treks like Everest Base Camp, Three High Passes Trek, and Gokyo Lakes Trek.
The Sherpa women are the cog that keeps the machine running on Everest. While most men of the house are out and about being guides for the trekkers and climbers, the women of the house handle the hotels where the guests stay for the night. The tea houses and lodges are mostly run by the Sherpa women.
Hardships Faced by the Sherpas
The word “sherpa” might be world-famous and has gained even more traction in the past few years. But the world only knows a handful of Sherpa mountaineers who broke some records. Though their contribution has been an immense advantage in the Sherpa communities, people often do not acknowledge their efforts, especially those who work in the background without gaining any fame in the process.
There are porters who carry heavy weights of different things on their backs and climb all the way to the base camp. It is not something a normal person can do. While we can admire their strength to carry inhumane weight, we have to acknowledge why they can do this in the first place.
The Sherpas are born and raised in some of the remote places of Nepal where there is no access to the road or other means of transport. So, for their daily commute, even before tourism flourished, they relied on their own strength or animals like yaks and mules for transporting goods up and down the area. Being born in the mountains and having to fend for themselves in the harsh weather conditions and geographically challenged areas got their bodies to adapt to the ways of mountains and can perform better than others.
And because the Solukhumbu area did not get access to roads, electricity, communication, and other basic needs as fast as other places in Nepal, the Sherpas did not receive opportunities, especially in the education sector. Even now, the children of Sherpas have to move to the city area to receive education higher than secondary level.
We also need to acknowledge the Sherpas who have lost their lives while summitting the mountains. It is a job that comes with a risk of costing one's life but still they are here, contributing to the economy of the country and helping all the climbing and trekking enthusiasts with their guide and support.
In Conclusion
But all in all, Sherpas are the, as mentioned earlier, backbone of the mountaineering and trekking community of Nepal. The summit of Everest was only successful with the aid of a sherpa. And even in the present day, Sherpas are the ones who run expeditions and trek in the Everest.
Therefore, we as people who are enthusiasts of trekking and climbing should show the utmost respect to Sherpas and their communities for their contribution in making our journey to Everest easier. Everest Base Camp trek is one of the best trekking destinations of the world and where you can experience all the flavors of the Sherpa, from their foods, culture, religion, and different festivals.