Damai (Nepali: दमाइँpronounced[dʌmaĩ]; IAST: Damāĩ) is an occupational caste found among Khas 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] Thus, K.C's of Kageswori municipality,Thali are one of the Damai group of the Kathmandu Valley.
According to the 2021 Nepal census, Damai make up 1.94% of Nepal's population (or 565,932 people).[10] Damai are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Kami, Badi, Sarki and Gaine by the Government of Nepal.[11]
Geographical distribution
At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, the frequency of Damai by province was as follows:
^ abThe Splendour of Sikkim- Culture and Traditions of the Ethnic Communities of Sikkim. Cultural Affairs and Heritage Department, Government of India. 2017. p. 81.
^Gurung, Harka (2005) Social Exclusion and Maoist Insurgency. Paper presented at National Dialogue Conference at ILO Convention 169 on Indigenous and Tribal peoples, Kathmandu, 19–20 January 2005.
