Hajjam

Hijama
Salmani and Turkia
Regions with significant populations
	India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Languages
	Urdu, Hindi, Punjabi
Religion
	Islam
Related ethnic groups
	Saifi, Shaikh

Last updated August 11, 2025

Hijama, also known as cupping, are an ethnic group in India ^[1]^[2] known for practicing cupping therapy. 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 listed in 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:

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.

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[1] 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.

[2] Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Karnataka. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 574–7. ISBN 978-81-85938-98-1.

[3] 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.

[4] "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.

[5] "National Commission for Backward Classes: Himachal Pradesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2015.

[6] Population Monograph of Nepal, Volume II

[7] "2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

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