Balai

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
For other uses, see Balai (disambiguation).

Balai
File:Tradition loom works.jpg
Traditional occupation of Balais
ReligionsHinduism
LanguagesNimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati
CountryIndia
Original stateMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
Related groupsSalvi, Meghwal, Koli people

The Balai, Raj Balai, Balahi, Bunkar or Sutarkar/Suutkar/सूतकार are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh in India.[1][2][3]

Balai is a Hindu Bunkar (बुनकर) caste which spelled or known as बळाई/बलाही/सूतकार .[3][2][4][5] The official categorization of Balai or Bunkar caste may vary from state to state as scheduled caste (SC) or Other backward caste (OBC).[6][7][8][9]

Balai as weavers

[edit | edit source]

Balai is a transliteration of the Hindi word बुनाई. The word means weaving.[4][10] Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balai.[11]

According to Hindu texts, all weavers in Hinduism are the descendants of Rishi Mrikanda.[12] Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving.

Bunkar(weaver) is a suitable name for the caste of balai as it represent the exact character and both are referred to be same, they belong to the vaishya varna, they work in weaving or selling.[13][14][15]

Jainism

[edit | edit source]

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.[16][17]

Raj Balai

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

Balai are Hindus by religion. They are devotees of Maa Durga, Maa Chamunda and Maa Kalaratri.[18] They also pay tribute to Baba Ramdeo Ji and consider Kalarati as their kuldevi.[19] Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.[20] 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.[21] They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.[22]

Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian as they believe in bali (animal sacrifice). Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Kalaratri.[20][23]

History

[edit | edit source]

The Balai caste is a functional caste of weavers. Historically they were engaged in work of weaving and the group known as Bunkar.[24][11][10]

In Rajasthan and Gujarat states of India they are specifically associated with Meghwal community due to their various cultural similarities like handicrafts and embroidery work.[25][26][27]

Population

[edit | edit source]

According to the 2011 census of India, there are 2,668,000 Balais in India.[28]

Language

[edit | edit source]

Balais speak languages including Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati.[29]

Other

[edit | edit source]

Sometimes, Balai is referred as Julaha and Meghwal.[19][30] Originally, most Balais associated themselves with the Meghwal community.[31][32][25]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  19. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  20. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  21. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  22. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  25. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  26. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  28. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  30. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  31. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  32. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Balai&oldid=10496025"