What is "dhanuk"

The Dhanuk are an ethnic group found in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. In India, the Dhanuk are found in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They have been granted Backward Caste status. In Nepal, they are settled in the Terai districts of Saptari, Siraha and Dhanusa. They are either Kshetris or a minority indigenous people. The Dhanuks of eastern Terai are also known as Mandal. The Dhanuk in both countries are Hindu, and speak various dialects of Hindi, such as Bhojpuri and Awadhi. According to tradition, the community gets its name from the Sanskrit word dhanushka, meaning a bowman.