Damai
Nepalese occupational caste
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Damai (Nepali: दमाइँ pronounced [dʌmaĩ]; IAST: Damāĩ) is an occupational caste found among indigenous 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 a "Lower caste”.[5]
दमाइँ | |
|---|---|
Damai men playing traditional Damaha | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 Nepal | 565,932 (1.9% of Nepal's population) (2021)[1] |
| Languages | |
| Kalautya Rudika (Damai kura)Nepali (Khas kura) | |
| Religion | |
| Shamanism, Buddhism, Hinduism 96.59% (2011), Christianity 3.22% (2011)[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Khas people, Kami, Badi, Sarki, Gandarbha/Gaine | |
The Government of kingdom of Nepal abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" in 1963 under the rule of King Mahendra.[6]
According to the 2021 Nepal census, Damai make up 1.94% of Nepal's population (or 565,932 people).[1] Damai are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Kami, Badi, Sarki and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[7]
Geographical distribution
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, the frequency of Damai by province was as follows:
- Karnali Province (4.0%)
- Gandaki Province (3.9%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (2.6%)
- Lumbini Province (1.9%)
- Koshi Province (1.8%)
- Bagmati Province (1.4%)
- Madhesh Province (0.2%)
The frequency of Damai was higher than national average (1.8%) in the following districts:[8]
- Parbat (7.5%)
- Myagdi (5.8%)
- Kalikot (5.1%)
- Dailekh (5.0%)
- Baglung (4.7%)
- Doti (4.6%)
- Surkhet (4.6%)
- Mustang (4.4%)
- Bajura (4.2%)
- Jajarkot (4.0%)
- Lamjung (3.9%)
- Dadeldhura (3.8%)
- Gulmi (3.7%)
- Kaski (3.7%)
- Syangja (3.7%)
- Western Rukum (3.7%)
- Rolpa (3.6%)
- Humla (3.5%)
- Tanahun (3.4%)
- Okhaldhunga (3.3%)
- Arghakhanchi (3.2%)
- Eastern Rukum (3.2%)
- Mugu (3.2%)
- Pyuthan (3.2%)
- Achham (3.1%)
- Sindhuli (3.1%)
- Tehrathum (3.1%)
- Gorkha (3.0%)
- Salyan (3.0%)
- Udayapur (2.8%)
- Dang (2.7%)
- Khotang (2.7%)
- Bhojpur (2.6%)
- Dhading (2.5%)
- Jumla (2.5%)
- Nawalpur (2.5%)
- Kanchanpur (2.3%)
- Ramechhap (2.3%)
- Dolakha (2.2%)
- Kailali (2.2%)
- Panchthar (2.2%)
- Sankhuwasabha (2.2%)
- Baitadi (2.1%)
- Chitwan (2.1%)
- Dhankuta (2.1%)
- Jhapa (1.9%)
- Palpa (1.9%)
- Sindhupalchowk (1.9%)