Kumal people
Kumal (Nepali: कुमाल) is a caste or ethnic group in Nepal, traditionally associated with pottery.[2] Their traditional profession is endangered due to competition from cheaper, more durable industrial pots.[3] Fewer youths learn the skills.[2]
![]() A Kumal man and woman in their ethnic wear | |
Total population | |
---|---|
121,000 (2011 Census)[1] | |
Regions with significant populations | |
Nepal | |
Languages | |
Kumal, Nepali |
Kumal people speak the Kumal language;[4] their traditional dance, the Pangdure, is considered endangered.[5] According to the population census of 2011, 121,000 Kumals live in Nepal; there are 12,000 native speakers of the Kumal language.[1]
![](../I/Kumal_making_clay_pot_using_traditional_wheel_.jpg.webp)
Geographic distribution
The 2011 Nepal census classifies the Kumal people within the broader social group of Mountain/Hill Janajati.[6] 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:[7]
References
- 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.
- "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.
- 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.
- "पाङदुरे जोगाउँदै कुमाल". ekantipur.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2020-05-06.
- Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
- 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
Further reading
- 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
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