Sarki (ethnic group)Sarki/Mijar (सार्की) is an occupational caste in Nepal traditionally belonging to leather workers. They are found in the region of the Himalayas, Nepal, across the hills of Darjeeling & Kalimpong and in Terai area of Dooars. They are experts in playing their musical instrument "Madal" and performing dance in a group which is also called “Khayali Marooni”. According to the 2021 Nepal census, Sarki makes up 1.55% of Nepal's population (452,229 people). Sarki are referred to in the Nepali and Thakali languages.
Badi peopleBadi (बादी) is a Hill Dalit community in Nepal. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Badi as "Impure and Untouchable (Pani Na Chalne)" category. Badi are categorized under "Hill Dalit" among the 9 broad social groups, along with Damai, Sarki, Kami and Gaine by the Government of Nepal. 'Badi' means Vadyabadak, one who plays musical instruments, in Sanskrit. Sometimes called untouchables among the untouchables, they support their impoverished families through daily wages and fishing, woodcutting and making musical instruments.
Kami (caste)Kami ) is an Indo-Aryan Nepali speaking group that primarily worked as metalsmiths. Later Nepal abolished its grading system. The tribal designation of Khas is given in only a few contexts. the Government of Nepal legally abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963 A.D. With Nepal's step towards freedom and equality, Nepal, previously ruled by a Hindu monarchy was a Hindu nation which has now become a secular state, and on 28 May 2008, it was declared a republic, ending it as the Hindu Kingdom.
Khas peopleKhas people, (Langkɑːs; खस) popularly known as Khas Arya, are an Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the Himalayan region of the Indian subcontinent, in what is now the present-day South Asian country of Nepal, as well as the Indian states of Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Sikkim. Historically, Khas were the speakers of an ancient Khas language from the Indo-Aryan language family and the earliest recorded speakers of the Western Pahari languages. The large portion of the Indo-Aryan speakers throughout lower Himalayas were the Khas people.
District de BajuraBajura District (बाजुरा जिल्ला ), a part of Sudurpashchim Province, is one of the seventy-seven districts of Nepal. The district, with Martadi (today part of Badimalika municipality) as its district headquarters, covers an area of and had a population of 108,781 in 2001 and 134,912 in 2011. The annual rainfall is about 13,433 mm and temperatures vary from 0 °C to 40 °C. The livelihood of more than 80% of the district population depends on agriculture farming, mainly small scale livestock.
DamaiDamai (दमाइँ) is an occupational caste found among Khas people. They comprise 45 subgroups. Their surnames take after the subgroup they belong to. People belonging to this caste are traditionally tailors and musicians. They are adept at using the naumati baja- an ensemble of nine traditional musical instruments. Damai is coined from musical instrument Damaha. The 1854 Nepalese Muluki Ain (Legal Code) categorized Damai as "Lower caste” category. Thus, the tribal designation of Khas is given only in few context to Kami, Damai and Sarki due to traditional status.
