Balai
Indian caste
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Balai, Raj Balai, Balahi, or Bunkar are a people and an Indian caste. They live in the Indian states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.[1][2][3]
| Balai | |
|---|---|
Weaving, the traditional occupation of Balais | |
| Religions | Hinduism |
| Languages | Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati |
| Country | India |
| Original state | Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh |
| Population | 2,668,000 (2011) |
| Related groups | Salvi, Meghwal, Koli people |
Balais are generally Hindus.[2][3][4][5] The official categorization of the caste varies from state to state as a scheduled caste or other backward caste.[6][7][8][9]
Balais speak languages including Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati.[10]
According to the 2011 census of India, there are 2,668,000 Balais in India.[11]
Balais as weavers
The Balai caste is a functional caste of weavers; historically, they were engaged in the work of weaving.[12][13][14]
"Balai" is a transliteration of the Hindi word बुनाई, which means "weaving".[4][12] They are also known as "Bunkar", meaning "weaver".[12][13][14]
In the varna system, Balais belong to the vaishya.[15][16][17]
Raj Balais
Beliefs
Balais are generally Hindus. They are devotees of Durga, Chamunda and Kalaratri;[18] they consider Kalaratri as their kuladevi (tutelary deity).[19] They also pay tribute to Ramdev Pir.[19] Balais are divided into a number of gotras, including Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki, Brejwal, Bunker,[3] Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva, and Jaipal.[20] Balais do not marry within their families or their gotra.[21] They live in multi-caste villages, and they bury their dead.[22][failed verification]
Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian as they believe in bali (animal sacrifice). As part of worshiping Kalaratri, Balai perform animal sacrifices.[21][23]
Jainism
In 1964, Jain Shravak Sangha preached to the Balai, near Ratlam, in the village Guradia. Sangha gave Dharampal Jain Samaj to the Balai in the name of Dharmanatha.[24][25]
Around 125,000 people of the Malviya and Gujarati Balai communities are Dharampal Jains.[as of?][24][25]
Associations with other peoples
Sometimes, the Balai are referred to as Julaha or Meghwal.[19][26] Originally,[when?] most Balais associated themselves with the Meghwal community.[27][28][29]
In the Indian states of Rajasthan and Gujarat, the Balai are associated with the Meghwal people due to their various cultural similarities; for example, both engage in the work of handicrafts and embroidery.[27][30][31]