Damai

Damai
दमाइँ
	Damai men playing traditional Damaha
Regions with significant populations
Nepal	565,932 (1.9% of Nepal's population) (2021)
Languages
	Nepali (Khas kura)
Religion
	Hinduism 96.59% (2011), Christianity 3.22% (2011)
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] K.C's of Kageswori municipality,Thali are one of the Damai group of the Kathmandu Valley.

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]

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%)

References

^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
^ ^a ^b ^c Whelpton 2005, p. 31.
^ ^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.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "Nepal king stripped of most powers". CNN. 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^ "Nepal votes to abolish monarchy". BBC News. 28 May 2008. Archived from the original on 7 January 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^ Crossette, Barbara (3 June 2001). "Birenda, 55, Ruler of Nepal's Hindu Kingdom". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
^ "Nepal Census 2011" (PDF).
^ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-03-20.