Madhesi people

The Madhesi (Madhesī, Devnagri: मधेसी) are the native people of Nepal who reside in the southern, plains region the Terai which they refer to as Madhesh. Madhesis comprise about 40% of the total population of Nepal. Madhesi people are ethnically, culturally and lingually similar to people of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh states of India.

Etymology

The word madhesi or madheshi is the adjectival form of madhesh, which usually refers to the Terai region. Madhesh (मधेश) derives from the Sanskrit words madhya desh (मध्य देश), meaning "middle country."

Madhesis are those people who have migrated from Indian States like Bihar,Uttar Pradesh,Rajasthan etc.

Religion

While the majority of Madhesis are caste-observant Hindu, there is great cultural and religious diversity in the Madhesh. Four distinct religious groups — Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Jains — live there. The social structure of Madheshi caste Hindus is very similar to that of Pahari Hindus from the hills.

Language

Beside speaking Nepali as the official language, Madhesi people also speak various local languages as their mother tongue. These include Maithili – 33%, Hindi - 20%, Bhojpuri – 18%, and Awadhi (including Tharu Awadhi) – 18%. The rest speak Nepali, Northern Bengali, Santhal, and...
Read More