Kami 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 Kamis live mainly in Nepal, but also Bhutan, and the Indian states of West Bengal and Sikkim. A smaller number are scattered throughout other parts of India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Kamis are a rural people known for metal working. They are divided into two groups: black smiths and gold, silver, and copper smiths. They supplement smithing with agricultural work. Many are bilingual, also speaking Hindi. In those areas, they engage in agriculture. Others serve as curers, who favor traditional medicines over the use of modern medicine.


What Are Their Beliefs?

As a rule, Kamis are Hindus. They worship different Hindu deities, and they go on pilgrimage to Hindu sacred sites in Darjeeling, a region of West Bengal. Some have converted to Buddhism and other religions including Christianity. Many of these conversions are probably an attempt to escape discrimination brought on by Hinduism.


What Are Their Needs?

Only about a third are literate in Nepali, their main language. They need better schools and medical facilities.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Christian Kamis to be loving and forthright in sharing their faith.
Pray for more openness to modern medicine and that such openness will lead to increased contacts with Christian physicians and health care providers.
Pray for increased literacy and access to Scripture in their languages.
Pray for the JESUS Film to be shown in their communities.
Pray for churches to adopt the Kamis.


Scripture Prayers for the Kami in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Kami
People Name in Country Kami
Pronunciation KAH-mee
Alternate Names Biswakarma; Lohar; Sunar; Viswakarma; कमी
Population this Country 1,448,000
Population all Countries 1,564,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 29
PeopleID3 17069
ROP3 Code 112407
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country East and south central.   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States on file 14
Largest States
Bheri
228,000
Seti
164,000
Lumbini
158,000
Rapti
152,000
Gandaki
135,000
Dhaulagiri
86,000
Karnali
81,000
Bagmati
80,000
Mahakali
79,000
Kosi
73,000
Sagarmatha
55,000
Narayani
54,000
Mechi
52,000
Janakpur
50,000
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country East and south central..   Source:  www.ethnologue.com
Total States 14
  Bheri 228,000
  Seti 164,000
  Lumbini 158,000
  Rapti 152,000
  Gandaki 135,000
  Dhaulagiri 86,000
  Karnali 81,000
  Bagmati 80,000
  Mahakali 79,000
  Kosi 73,000
  Sagarmatha 55,000
  Narayani 54,000
  Mechi 52,000
  Janakpur 50,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
1.41 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.56 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.93 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.04 %
Unknown
0.07 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Nepali (1,147,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Dotyali
90,000
Bantawa
5,000
Maithili
4,300
Bhojpuri
3,200
Humla
2,200
Chamling
1,600
Musasa
1,500
Kham, Sheshi
900
Awadhi
600
Kham, Gamal
600
Magar, Western
400
Kham, Western Parbate
200
Raute
200
Seke
50
Lhowa
Primary Language Nepali (1,147,000 speakers)
Language Code npi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 16
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Dotyali 90,000
  Bantawa 5,000
  Maithili 4,300
  Bhojpuri 3,200
  Humla 2,200
  Chamling 1,600
  Musasa 1,500
  Kham, Sheshi 900
  Awadhi 600
  Kham, Gamal 600
  Magar, Western 400
  Kham, Western Parbate 200
  Raute 200
  Seke 50
  Lhowa 10
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)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Nepali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video New Way (Naya Goreto) Create International
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible Biblica
Mobile App Android Bible app: Nepali Bible The Love Fellowship
Mobile App Android Bible app: TBS Nepali Bible General / Other
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Nepali Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Ek Rasta Nepali General / Other
Mobile App Android Book Reading app: Nepali Bible Stories Internet Publishing Sevice
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Nepali YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Jesus Messiah comic book General / Other
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Nepali Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter The Ancient Path Live Global
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Pexels  Creative Commons 
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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