Hajjam are an ethnic group in the Indian subcontinent[1][2] known for practicing cupping therapy, also known as Hijama. The word Hijama has been derived from the Arabic word Al Hajm, means “sucking”, referring to this therapy. A practitioner was called a Hijama in Arab countries, and the name was used in India as well.[3][verification needed]
They are on the OBC list of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.[4][5]
The Hajjam in Nepal
The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Hajjam (called Hajam in the Nepal census) as a subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Other Caste.[6] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 117,758 people (0.4% of the population of Nepal) were Hajjam. The frequency of Hajjam by province was as follows:
- Madhesh Province (1.4%)
- Lumbini Province (0.5%)
- Koshi Province (0.3%)
- Bagmati Province (0.1%)
- Gandaki Province (0.0%)
- Karnali Province (0.0%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Hajjam was higher than national average (0.4%) in the following districts:[7]
- Saptari (1.5%)
- Dhanusha (1.4%)
- Parsa (1.4%)
- Rautahat (1.4%)
- Siraha (1.4%)
- Mahottari (1.3%)
- Sarlahi (1.3%)
- Bara (1.2%)
- Kapilvastu (1.1%)
- Banke (0.9%)
- Parasi (0.9%)
- Rupandehi (0.8%)
- Morang (0.6%)
- Sunsari (0.5%)
References
- ^ Singh, Nagendra Kr; Khan, Abdul Mabud (2001). Encyclopaedia of the World Muslims: Tribes, Castes and Communities. Global Vision. pp. 504–8. ISBN 978-81-87746-05-8.
- ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Karnataka. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 574–7. ISBN 978-81-85938-98-1.
- ^ Qureshi, Naseem Akhtar; Ali, Gazzaffi Ibrahim; Abushanab, Tamer Shaban; El-Olemy, Ahmed Tawfik; Alqaed, Meshari Saleh; El-Subai, Ibrahim S.; Al-Bedah, Abdullah M.N. (May 2017). “History of cupping ( Hijama ): a narrative review of literature”. Journal of Integrative Medicine. 15 (3): 172–181. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(17)60339-X. PMID 28494847.
- ^ “List of Backward Classes | Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Caste & Backward Classes, Government of Haryana”. haryanascbc.gov.in. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
- ^ “National Commission for Backward Classes: Himachal Pradesh” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II
- ^ “2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.