Majhi in Nepal


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Majhis are one of the indigenous peoples of the nation of Nepal - possessing their own language, dress, culture, etc. Majhis are not only polite and shy but also very much friendly and helpful. Due to these points they are defeated in many ways and the so called high castes have exploited them excessively. From the dawn of time the Majhi have had a special and intimate relationship with the rivers of Nepal. The main traditional occupation of the Majhi people is boat building and river transportation services in Nepal, with most Majhi living in the inner Terai near rivers. On average, Majhi people are dark brown in skin complexion, medium in height and well built, they have the classic Mongoloid features typical of East Asia.
Nepal is divided in 3 parts horizontally that is Mountain, Hill and Terai. And most of the Majhis have lived in Inner Terai. Except this they live some in plain Terai and Mountain areas also. We can find that most of the Majhis are located just near the rivers shore. In Nepal a group of rivers is called Saptakoshi. It is made out of 7 rivers of Nepal which is Indrawati, Bhotekoshi, Tamakoshi, Sunkoshi, Arun, Barun and Likhu respectively. And these particular rivers are the main location of Majhi people of Nepal.
The Majhi language is categorized as 'Indo-European' and is declining due to backwardness and modernism. It is still widely spoken, however, in Kavrepalanchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Okaldhunga and Khotang districts. It is Majhi's desire that the education of Majhis be in their mother language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They are patrilineal though in many ways Majhi women are powerful in decision making. Most of the men follow whatever the women prescribe. Though it is they equally share the responsibilities whether it is outside or inside of the house. They catch fish in the rivers for feeding by the help of self-made hooks and nets. Majhis have their own traditional songs, dances and many ritual functions. They have strong we feeling among them. They are proud to be Majhi.
The ancestral occupation of the Majhi people is to help other people in crossing the many rivers of Nepal in their Majhi made boats. By doing this they get coins from the benefiters. Fishing was for their own sustenance. They do not farm fish in pools, just freely catch fish from the rivers. The Majhi also farm but they don't have enough land to fulfill their daily needs, the women especially sell "Marcha" an ayurvedic medicine for making wine and jand i.e. a special wine making of cooked corns in the markets, as well as mats made of pater. Majhi products are of exceptional quality. Today a tragedy is unfolding in Nepal. Modern bridges and government interference in their traditional working areas is destroying the traditional Majhi way of life.
Majhis are endogamous. They explicitly prohibited to marry outside of their clan, caste and tribes. Most Majhi people reside in ancestral places in simple round houses made of stone or clay - having a single door; and always very close to each other. They use straws for roof. While making a new house a Majhi will check to see if the house spot is suitable or not by mixing the soil of the four corners of the selected site with MARCHA (medicine to prepare JAND). If the soil is tasty, it is believed that the chosen house spot is suitable, if not - it is rejected as an unsuitable location.
The Majhi have limited educational opportunities. They have a very low literacy level, no Majhi has a master’s degree, only 15 have bachelor's degrees, 35 have certificate level qualifications and 130 have the qualification of S.L.C. (School Leaving Certificate).


What Are Their Beliefs?

Tantrik religion is the Majhi religion, the Majhi have no Temples or man-made places of worship, they establish Gods or Godesses at the base of a tree near a river, a primarily animist religious belief. The main god of the Majhi people is Gharbhimsen, other principal gods are Goresiddhi, Gaidu, Mahadev, Jaurekhee, Setidevi, Ardev, Jangali and Shikari, Totala flowers are vitally important in the worship of these deities.
Majhis are pantheist. They give worship to creatures like Sime, Bhume, Bhut-Pret, Chhauda, Kancho Bayu, Pisach etc. They believe in the soul, hell and heaven. After the death of a person, they believe that the soul of their dead relatives and ancestrals visit to their house for many purposes. So Majhi should pray and offer them some pure rice, wine, flowers, fragrantic wood etc. regularly. If something goes wrong in these steps, the soul makes loss of material things of the home. If it is ok, everything will be ok. They believe in witchcraft also. They still practice this. By their witchcraft, they harm thier enemies and block the ways of evils.


What Are Their Needs?

Most of the Majhi people are below the poverty line. The economic status of the Majhi is very poor. This is perhaps the most pitiable situation of the proud Majhi people - and the one in most need or urgent attention, modernity, government obstructionism, water pollution and no financial aid from the government of the Nepal - are all causing the Majhi people to sink ever deeper into poverty and despair.
The ancestral occupations that is boating and fishing are now completely replaced due to developmental activities countrywide, however the concerned institutions have not remembered us which is great injustice towards the Majhi people. They even have not sufficient land for agriculture that is why they are living impoverished kind of life. Next tragedy of Majhi people is the lands of stream shores which is free of cost are not belong to any Majhi people, but to other so called high castes have that lands. So, governmental bodies should mainly focus on the Majhi's sustainable development.


Prayer Points

Pray the Majhi would see they can enjoy abundant life if they put their trust in Jesus Christ.
Pray for the Lord to intervene in their families, calling people to his side and blessing them in every way.
Pray for loving workers.
Pray for their hearts to be drawn to the Lord of lords.
Pray for a church planting movement to thrive in their communities.


Scripture Prayers for the Majhi in Nepal.


References

Surya Majhi


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Majhi
People Name in Country Majhi
Pronunciation MAH-gee
Alternate Names Deshwali Majhi; Kewat; Maghi; Mallah; Manjhi; Nabik; Panjabi; माझी
Population this Country 96,000
Population all Countries 231,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 2
PeopleID3 13231
ROP3 Code 106076
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States on file 13
Largest States
Janakpur
27,000
Bagmati
19,000
Kosi
15,000
Narayani
10,000
Mechi
8,800
Sagarmatha
7,800
Lumbini
2,800
Gandaki
2,600
Bheri
800
Seti
700
Dhaulagiri
600
Rapti
600
Mahakali
200
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Total States 13
  Janakpur 27,000
  Bagmati 19,000
  Kosi 15,000
  Narayani 10,000
  Mechi 8,800
  Sagarmatha 7,800
  Lumbini 2,800
  Gandaki 2,600
  Bheri 800
  Seti 700
  Dhaulagiri 600
  Rapti 600
  Mahakali 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.93 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
2.95 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
87.72 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.31 %
Unknown
8.09 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (39,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Majhi
26,000
Maithili
11,000
Rangpuri
3,500
Bhojpuri
700
Angika
500
Awadhi
400
Koch
400
Bengali
400
Odia
300
Rawat
200
Dotyali
100
Mpade
90
Hindi
80
Kharia
20
Santhali
20
Primary Language Nepali (39,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Majhi 26,000
  Maithili 11,000
  Rangpuri 3,500
  Bhojpuri 700
  Angika 500
  Awadhi 400
  Koch 400
  Bengali 400
  Odia 300
  Rawat 200
  Dotyali 100
  Mpade 90
  Hindi 80
  Kharia 20
  Santhali 20
People Groups Speaking Nepali

Primary Language:  Nepali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1850-1961)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1821-2010)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1914-2024)
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Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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