 A Kumal man and woman in their ethnic wear | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 121,000 (2011 Census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| Kumal, Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism 98%, Christianity 1.4%[2] | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Tharu, Bote, Danuwar, Darai, Majhi |
Kumal (Nepali: कुमाल) is a caste or ethnic group in Nepal, traditionally associated with pottery.[3] Their traditional profession is endangered due to competition from cheaper, more durable industrial pots.[4] Fewer youths learn the skills.[3] They are found to inhabit in the Terai, inner Terai and Mid-hills close to the riverbanks where bioresearches are rich to continue to their traditional occupation.[5] Their traditional dance, the Pangdure, is considered endangered.[6]
Language[edit]
Kumal people speak the Kumal language.[7] According to the population census of 2011, 121,000 Kumals live in Nepal; there are 12,000 native speakers of the Kumal language. Kumhali language is close to Tharu languages.[1]
Geographic distribution[edit]
The 2011 Nepal census classifies the Kumal people within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[8] At the time of the Nepal census of 2011, 121,196 people (0.5% of the population of Nepal) were Kumal. The frequency of Kumal people by province was as follows:
- Gandaki Province (1.5%)
- Lumbini Province (1.0%)
- Bagmati Province (0.3%)
- Madhesh Province (0.2%)
- Koshi Province (0.2%)
- Karnali Province (0.1%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (0.1%)
The frequency of Kumal people was higher than national average (0.5%) in the following districts:[9]
- Nawalpur (3.9%)
- Arghakhanchi (3.4%)
- Gulmi (3.1%)
- Gorkha (3.0%)
- Palpa (2.6%)
- Tanahun (2.5%)
- Chitwan (1.6%)
- Dang (1.5%)
- Pyuthan (1.5%)
- Dhading (1.4%)
- Lamjung (1.0%)
- Nuwakot (0.9%)
- Parasi (0.7%)
- Baglung (0.6%)
- Parsa (0.6%)
- Sankhuwasabha (0.6%)
References[edit]
- ^ a b Government of Nepal. National Planning Commission Secretariat. Central Bureau of Statistics (2012). National Population and Housing Census 2011 (National Report) (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-18.
- ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
- ^ a b "पहिचान जोगाउन पुर्ख्यौंली पेसातिरै फर्कियो चुलाचुलीको कुमाल समुदाय". Thaha Khabar. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ "आधुनिकतासँगै कुमाल समुदायको पुख्र्यौली पेशा सङ्कटमा". Radio Nepal. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ "Kumal of Nepal" (PDF).
- ^ "पाङदुरे जोगाउँदै कुमाल". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- ^ Panthī, Dīna (2002). Pālpā-Gulmelī upabhāshika: Lumbinī Añcalakā tīna Pahāṛī jillā Gulmī, Ardhākhān̐cī ra Pālpāmā boline Nepālī bhāshākā sthānīya bhedako biśesha adhyayana (in Nepali). Nepāla Rājakīya Prajñā-Pratishṭhāna.
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
- ^ 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
Further reading[edit]
- Rai, Dhyanendra Bahadur (2009). "Livelihood Patterns of Majhi and Kumal Communities in the Arun Valley, Eastern Nepal". Geographical Journal of Nepal. 7: 7–14. doi:10.3126/gjn.v7i0.17437.
External links[edit]
| Sino-Tibetan (Trans-Himalayan) |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indo-Aryan |
| ||||||||
| Indo-Aryan of a distinct origin | |||||||||
| Other peoples (M, D, i) of Indus-Ganga |
| ||||||||
| Immigrants | |||||||||
| Other basis |
| ||||||||
