Bhujel
Indigenous group, Caste group in Nepal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bhujel are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group now living in Nepal, India, and Bhutan. They are scattered in several districts, mostly in Tanahu and Syangja.[4] The inhabitants living near the Bhuji Khola river called Bhujel. Bhujel are divided into four subcastes – Bhujyal, Gharti, Nisel and Khawas. [5]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 120,245 (2021 census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nepal, India, Bhutan | |
| Languages | |
| Bhujel | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 97.6%, Christianity 2%, Others[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Chepang people, Tibetan and other Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups, Mongols[3] |
Culture
In the Bhujel speech community, Bhimsen, a god, is worshiped in the month of October on the eve of harvesting the crops. They build the shrine inside or outside the house. They offer and sacrifice of a couple of cocks. On this occasion, Ghatunach is performed with the help and guidance of guruma (the female teacher). On this occasion, the guruma and the dancers are highly honoured.[6] They are also worshipped as goddesses. They enjoy very high status in Chandi. Chandi is one of the very popular local festivals.[7]
Demographics
The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Bhujel (called Gharti/Bhujel in the Nepal census) as a subgroup within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[8] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 118,650 people (0.4% of the population of Nepal) were Bhujel. The frequency of Bhujel people by province was as follows:
- Gandaki Province (1.3%)
- Koshi Province (0.8%)
- Bagmati Province (0.6%)
- Lumbini Province (0.2%)
- Madhesh Province (0.1%)
- Karnali Province (0.0%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Bhujel people was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:[9]
- Tanahun (2.5%)
- Syangja (2.4%)
- Lamjung (2.3%)
- Okhaldhunga (2.1%)
- Solukhumbu (1.9%)
- Bhojpur (1.7%)
- Khotang (1.7%)
- Ramechhap (1.6%)
- Dolakha (1.5%)
- Sindhuli (1.5%)
- Kaski (1.4%)
- Tehrathum (1.3%)
- Dhankuta (1.2%)
- Dhading (1.0%)
- Gulmi (1.0%)
- Arghakhanchi (0.9%)
- Jhapa (0.9%)
- Kavrepalanchok (0.9%)
- Sindhupalchowk (0.9%)
- Udayapur (0.9%)
- Chitwan (0.8%)
- Gorkha (0.8%)
- Ilam (0.7%)
- Palpa (0.6%)
- Sunsari (0.6%)
- Nuwakot (0.5%)
- Parbat (0.5%)
- Pyuthan (0.5%)
- Sankhuwasabha (0.5%)
