Summary
Bhujel or Gharti are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group in Nepal.They are scattered in several districts, mostly in Tanahu and Syangja.[3] The inhabitants living near the Bhuji Khola river called Bhujel. Bhujel are divided into four subcaste – Bhujyal, Gharti, Nisel and Khawas. [4]
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 120,245 (2021 census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nepal, India | |
| Languages | |
| Bhujel language, Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 97.6%, Christianity 2%[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Chepang people |
Culture edit
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.[5] They are also worshipped as goddesses. They enjoy very high status in Chandi. Chandi is one of the very popular local festivals.[6]
Demographics edit
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.[7] 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:[8]
- 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%)
References edit
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Exclusion of Bhujels". english.indigenousvoice.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "Bhujel (Gharti)". OHCHR. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Bhujel of Nepal".
- ^ Hari Bansh Jha. "Janajatis of Nepal" (PDF).
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II [1]
- ^ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-04-12.