Dhimal 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 Dhimal live both in Nepal and West Bengal, India. In Nepal, they live in 24 villages of Mechi zone in Jhapa District and 51 villages in Koshi zone, Morang District.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Dhimal women are good at weaving and have unique dress among the ethnic peoples of Nepal. Education is almost completely absent among them. A landless people, the traditional occupation of the Dhimal was hunting and gathering. Nowadays, agriculture is their main occupation.


What Are Their Beliefs?

They worship nature and household gods, and worship Chaitanya Nityananda as their family deity. They also worship other deities like Buda Thakur, Sadi Buri, and Kali.


What Are Their Needs?

The Lord is growing his Church in Nepal. Perhaps one or more Nepali Christians will be led by God's Spirit to take the life-giving message of Christ to the Dhimal community.


Prayer Points

There are a few hundred Dhimal believers in Nepal. Please pray these people will be accurately taught the ways of Christ.
Pray the entire Dhimal community will be given a growing desire to find forgiveness for their sin; then may they learn of Christ's sacrifice for that purpose.
Pray the gospel message comes to them in ways they understand.


Scripture Prayers for the Dhimal in Nepal.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Dhimal
People Name in Country Dhimal
Pronunciation dee-MAHL
Alternate Names Agnia; Dhemal; Dhimar; Jharwa; Maulik; धिमल
Population this Country 31,000
Population all Countries 37,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 11544
ROP3 Code 102575
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Eastern Terai, around Jhapa   Source:  Joshua Project
Total States on file 10
Largest States
Kosi
18,000
Mechi
10,000
Sagarmatha
1,200
Bagmati
1,100
Narayani
200
Seti
100
Janakpur
40
Gandaki
40
Lumbini
20
Bheri
20
Country Nepal
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Eastern Terai, around Jhapa.   Source:  Joshua Project
Total States 10
  Kosi 18,000
  Mechi 10,000
  Sagarmatha 1,200
  Bagmati 1,100
  Narayani 200
  Seti 100
  Janakpur 40
  Gandaki 40
  Lumbini 20
  Bheri 20
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.07 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
1.30 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
97.21 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
1.23 %
Unknown
0.19 %
* From latest Nepal census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Dhimal (19,000 speakers)
Language Code dhi   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
Nepali
5,200
Maithili
2,100
Bantawa
80
Bhojpuri
50
Awadhi
20
Primary Language Dhimal (19,000 speakers)
Language Code dhi   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 6
Secondary Languages
  Nepali 5,200
  Maithili 2,100
  Bantawa 80
  Bhojpuri 50
  Awadhi 20
People Groups Speaking Dhimal
Photo Source Munal Chaudhary - Wikimedia  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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