The Majhi people are an ethnic group indigenous to the inner Terai regions of Nepal.[3] They live on the banks of rivers and streams, fishing, boating, making chillies, and make a living by farming.[4] They speak Majhi language.The territories of Majhi people include hilly and inner Terai regions along the tributaries of Saptakoshi river like Sunkoshi, Tamakoshi, Dudhkoshi, Arun, Barun, Likhu, and Tamur.[5] They have their own distinct language, religion, culture, rituals, custom and lifestyles. The Majhis belongs to the most marginalized group.[6][7]
माझी | |
|---|---|
 Boy and Girl in Majhi Cultural Dress | |
| Total population | |
 Nepal 111,352[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Majhi language, Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 82%, Prakriti 16%, Christianity 1.33%[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tharu people, Danuwar, Darai, Bote |
Origin
editThe word Majhi means fishermen in Nepali. The present day Majhi narrate multiple stories and beliefs about the origin of their ethnic group. Many older Majhi from Sindhuli and Ramechap districts are of the view that Majhi are descendants of the people related with the Hindu epics such as the Ramayana. A legend suggests that Tharu, Danuwar, Bote and Majhi were family members.[8]
Culture
editMajhi people live alongside the rivers of Nepal with ancestral occupations of boating and fishing.[9] Their distinct folklore, songs, and dances often celebrate the beauty and power of the rivers. The community's traditional wooden boats, known as "dohis," have become emblematic of their way of life.[10] For generations, the Majhi community has played a pivotal role in facilitating transportation and trade, ferrying people, goods, and livestock across Nepal's rivers. There’s similarity in custom and occupation of Bote or Majhi people though they live in different places of Nepal. Living besides river, fishing boating, looking for gold, farming and rearing animals are the main occupations of these people. They have different tradition of birth, death, wedding, feast and festivals from other races.[11]
Language
editMajhi people speak Majhi language (also known as Majhi Kuro or Majhi Bhasa) which is spoken in central and eastern Nepal. According to the census of 2011, there were a total of 24,000 who considered Majhi as their mother tongue. There are some regional dialects of the Majhi language. There are some differences in each district and village.[3]
Religion
editMajhi people consider themselves as Nature worshippers.[12] Though Majhis do not employ Brahmin priest while performing religious rites, they claim themselves to be Hindu. They observe all such festivals as Baisakh Purnima, Sansari Puja, Aitabare, Shrawan Sankranti, Dashain, Tihar, Godhko dhup, Maghe Sankranti and Chaite Dasain. Additionally, they also offer sacrifice (Panchabali) to gods and celebrate Barden and Bhumi Puja (land-worship), Jhakani Puja to name a few.[8]
Marriage
editThe Majhi follow different kinds of marriage system, including cross-cousin marriage, Jaari marriage (marrying another man’s wife), forced marriage, theft marriage and arranged marriage.[8]
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.
- ^ a b "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
- ^ "Majhi community observes Koshi puja". The Himalayan Times. 2021-03-03. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ "Majhi". indigenousvoice.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ "Majhi Caste : Another Indigenous Inhabitant of Nepal". 2020-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ "The Majhi Community of Nepal, Kathmandu". Everything In Nepal. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ a b c "Majhis of Nepal".
- ^ "Impacts of Climate Change on the indigenous Majhi community in Nepal". weADAPT. 2016-09-12. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
- ^ "Indigenous Majhi women resisting the construction of Sunkoshi hydropower dam in Manthali, Ramechhap to protect their land rights" (PDF).
- ^ "Bote Majhi" (PDF).
- ^ "Janajatis of Nepal" (PDF).