Bhujel

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]

Map of the Tanahu District, the home of Bhujel people.

Bhujel people

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%)