Damai
दमाइँ
Damai men playing traditional Damaha
Regions with significant populations
   Nepal565,932 (1.9% of Nepal's population) (2021)[1]
Languages
Nepali (Khas kura)
Religion
Hinduism 96.59% (2011), Christianity 3.22% (2011)[2]
Related ethnic groups
Khas people, Kami, Badi, Sarki, Gandarbha/Gaine

Damai (Nepali: दमाइँ pronounced [dʌmaĩ]; IAST: Damāĩ) is an occupational caste found among Khas people comprising 45 subgroups.[3] Their surnames take after the subgroup they belong to.[4] People belonging to this caste are traditionally tailors[3] and musicians capable of using the naumati baja - an ensemble of nine traditional musical instruments.[4] The term Damai is coined from the musical instrument Damaha. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Damai as "Lower caste” category.[5] Thus, the tribal designation of Khas is given only in few context to Kami, Damai and Sarki due to traditional status.[3]

The Government of Nepal abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" in 1963.[6] The country, previously ruled by a Hindu monarchy was a Hindu nation which has now become a secular state.[7] It was declared a republic in 2008,[8] thereby ending it as the Hindu Kingdom with its caste-based discriminations and the untouchability roots.[9]

According to the 2021 Nepal census, Damai make up 1.94% of Nepal's population (or 565,932 people).[10] Damai are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Kami, Badi, Sarki and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[11]

Geographical distribution

At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, the frequency of Damai by province was as follows:

The frequency of Damai was higher than national average (1.8%) in the following districts:[12]

References

  1. ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  2. ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  3. ^ a b c Whelpton 2005, p. 31.
  4. ^ a b The Splendour of Sikkim- Culture and Traditions of the Ethnic Communities of Sikkim. Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department, Government of India. 2017. p. 81.
  5. ^ Gurung, Harka (2005) Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency. Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.
  6. ^ Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche. "Nepal: Deadly caste-based attacks spur outcry over social discrimination | DW | 16.06.2020". DW.COM. Retrieved 2021-02-28.
  7. ^ "Nepal king stripped of most powers". CNN. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  8. ^ "Nepal votes to abolish monarchy". BBC News. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  9. ^ Crossette, Barbara (3 June 2001). "Birenda, 55, Ruler of Nepal's Hindu Kingdom". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  10. ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  11. ^ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
  12. ^ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-20.

Bibliography

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