Balai
Indian caste From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Balai, Raj Balai, Balahi,Bunkar, or Sutarkar are found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India.[1][2][3]
Balai as weavers
Balai is a transliteration of the Hindi word बुनाई. The word means weaving.[4][5] Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balais.[6]
According to Hindu texts, all weavers in Hinduism are the descendants of Rishi Mrikanda.[7] Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving.
Bunkar is a subgroup of the caste of Balai. They belong to the vaishya caste. They work in weaving or selling.[8]
Jainism
Jain Shravak Sangha preached to the Balai community in 1964, near Ratlam, in the village Guradia. Jain Shravak Sangha gave Dharampal Jain Samaj to the Balai community, in the name of Dharmanatha. About 1.25 lakh people of the Malviya and Gujarati Balai communities are Dharampal Jains.[9][10]
Raj Balai
Historically, the Raj Balais were royal messengers. They used to convey messages from one kingdom to another kingdom in ancient times. Raj means royal, therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais.[3]
Beliefs
Balai are Hindus by religion. They are devotees of Maa Durga, Maa Chamunda and Maa Kalaratri.[11] They also pay tribute to Baba Ramdeo Ji and consider Kalarati as their kuldevi.[12] Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.[13] Balais are divided into a number of gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki, Brejwal, Bunker[3] Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.[14] They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.[15]
Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian as they believe in bali (animal sacrifice). Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri.[13][16]
Notable people
Kaliash Verma - Indian politician.
Arjun Ram Meghwal - Law minister of India.
Vinod Jakhar - Ex Rajasthan University president.[17]
Saint Kabir Das - Poet and sufi saint.
Population
According to the 2011 census of India, there are 2,668,000 Balais in India.[18]
Language
Balais speak languages including Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati.[19]
Other
Sometimes, Balai is referred to as Julaha and Meghwal.[12][20] Originally, most Balais associated themselves with the Meghwal community.[21][22]
References
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