Damai

For other uses, see Damai (disambiguation).

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 "Lower caste” category.^[5]

Damai

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).^[7] Damai are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Kami, Badi, Sarki and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.^[8]

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:^[9]

• 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%)