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 subcaste – Bhujyal, Gharti, Nisel and Khawas. [5]

Bhujel people
Total population
120,245 (2021 census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Nepal, India, Bhutan
Languages
Bhujel language
Religion
Hinduism 97.6%, Christianity 2%, Others[2]
Related ethnic groups
Chepang people, Tibetan and other Tibeto-Burman ethnic groups, Mongols[3]
Map of the Tanahu District, the home of Bhujel people.

Culture

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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

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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:

The frequency of Bhujel people was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:[9]

References

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  1. ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  2. ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  3. ^ "Exclusion of Bhujels". english.indigenousvoice.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  4. ^ "Exclusion of Bhujels". english.indigenousvoice.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  5. ^ "Bhujel (Gharti)". OHCHR. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Bhujel of Nepal".
  7. ^ Hari Bansh Jha. "Janajatis of Nepal" (PDF).
  8. ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II [1]
  9. ^ "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-03-14. Retrieved 2023-04-12.