Danuwar people

Danuwar people, an ethnic group indegineous to Nepal
Ethnic group
Danuwar
दनुवार
Danuwar Children
Total population
   Nepal 82,784[1]
Languages
Danwar language, Nepali
Religion
Hinduism 83.6%, Prakriti 15%, Christianity 1.15%[2]
Related ethnic groups
Tharu, Kumal, Bote, Darai, Majhi

The Danuwar are an ethnic group indigenous to the inner Terai regions of Nepal.[3] They speak Danwar language. Danuwars can be found throughout the hills and Terai regions of central and eastern Nepal but they mainly reside in Sindhuli and Udayapur district.[4] They have close physical and cultural similarities with Tharus of Terai.[5] There are various sub groups largely Rajhan, Kachhade, Rai-Danuwar and Tharu Danuwar.[6][7][8]

Etymology

The word Danuwar is thought to be derived from the word 'Duna' which means leaves plates and people consuming food in it were later called Danuwar. Another theory suggest that it is derived from the Sanskrit Dronibar which signifies the plain land between the confluences of two rivers situated in the laps of the two hills.[9]

Language

Danuwar people speak Danwar language (also known as Danwari) which is close to Bote-Darai and Tharu languages. According to the census of 2011, there were a total of 46,000 who considered Danuwar as their mother tongue.[10]

Religion

Danuwar people consider themselves as Nature worshippers.[11] However many follow Hinduism and some even wear 'sacred thread' like the Brahmins.[5]

References

  1. ^ National Statistics Office (2021). National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report. Government of Nepal (Report).
  2. ^ Central Bureau of Statistics (2014). Population monograph of Nepal (PDF) (Report). Vol. II. Government of Nepal.
  3. ^ "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
  4. ^ admin (2020-12-18). "Danuwar : Indigenous Inhabitants In Nepal with Mongolian Origin". Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  5. ^ a b Oviedo de Valeria, Jenny (1994-08-02). "Danuwar people". Educación matemática. 6 (2): 73–86. doi:10.24844/em0602.06. ISSN 2448-8089.
  6. ^ "The Danuwar Rai of Nepal" (PDF).
  7. ^ "The manjani system of the danuwar state of the kamala valley" (PDF).
  8. ^ "A Sociolinguistic Study of Dewas Rai and Danuwar" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Danuwar". english.indigenousvoice.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  10. ^ "Danwar language". www.omniglot.com. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  11. ^ "Janjatis-in-Nepal" (PDF).
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