Jirels are a small community that lives in the Eastern Himalayas and speak a distinct Tibeto-Burman language which greatly resembles the Sherpa and the Sunuwar Koit language. Jirels are the original inhabitants of Jiri and they call themselves Jirwa in their language. While the Jirels follow Buddhism, have their own monks and also a Gumba (monastery), all healing rituals and clan worship are done by a Phombo, a Jirel shaman.
