Balai

Indian caste

For other uses, see Balai (disambiguation).

Balai or Balahi

Traditional occupation of Balais

Religions| Hinduism
Languages| Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati
Country| India
Original state| Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
Related groups| Salvi, Meghwal, Koli

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

## Balai as Weaver

[edit]

Balai is the bad pronounastion of hindi word "बुनाई", the word "Balai" itself is mean to weaving [4][5] Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balais.[6][7]

According to Hindu texts all the weaver in Hindu religion are the descendants of Rishi Mrikanda who was born in the clan of Bhrigu Rishi.[8][9]Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving, He is also venerated as the father of Markandeya, the rishi (sage) who is featured extensively in the Markandeya Purana.[10][11][12] In this context Balai weaver are also said to be descendants of Rishi Mrikanda.

similar : The Kanjeevaram Silk Weavers are also considered as descendants of Rishi Markanda, who was considered to be the weaver of the clothes that Gods themselves wore. In this way it can be said that all the weaver communities in Hinduism associated with rishi mrikanda too.[8][13]

Bunker is the sub group from the caste of balai some of the bunker's are still doing the work of weaving and they belong to the vaishya

caste. They are attached with the work of weaving or selling.[14]

## Balai as Jain

[edit]

Jain Shravak Sangha had preached among the Balai community in 1964 near Ratlam in village Guradia. Acharya Nanalal Maharaj from Jain Shravak Sangha gave Dharampal Jain Samaj to the balai community in the name of Lord Dharmanath, who was among the Tirthankaras of Jain society. Currently 1.25 lakh people of Malviya and Gujarati Balai community across the country have become Dharampal Jains.[1][15][16]

## Balai as Raj Balai

[edit]

Historically the Raj Balais are said to be royal messengers, they used to convey messages from one kingdom to another kingdom at the ancient times . 'Raj' is the synonym Royal therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais. [17]

## Beliefs

[edit]

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 "KALRATRI" as their kuldevi.[19][20] Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.[21] Balai have mixed gotras in their caste due to caste conversions. Balais are divided into a number of exogamous gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki,[22] Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.[23] They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.[24]

Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian cause they belief in Bali (animal sacrifice).[19] Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri.[21] At present most of the people of the community choose to be pure vegetarian.[25]

## Population

[edit]

According to 2011 Census of India, Rajasthan showed their population as 306,034 contributing 9.11% in state, while there are 2,668,000 in over all country.[26]

## Language

[edit]

They speak languages like Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati in various Indian states.[27]

## Other

[edit]

* Sometimes balai is also referred as Julaha and Meghwal.[28][29] Originally most of balais are associate themselves to Meghwal community and refer themselves as Meghwal and Meghvanshi.[30][31]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nesfield, John Collinson (1885). Brief View of the Caste System of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh: Together with an Examination of the Names and Figures Shown in the Census Report, 1882, Being an Attempt to Classify on a Functional Basis All the Main Castes of the United Provinces, and to Explain Their Gradations of Rank and the Process of Their Formation. 28th February, 1885. North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press.
2. ^ Singh, K. S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3.
3. ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1962). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications. pp. Page no. 14 ( Sutarkars mention themselves as bunkars).
4. ^ Mayer, Adrian (28 July 2023). Caste and Kinship in Central India: A Village and its Region. Univ of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-31349-1.
5. ^ Nesfield, John Collinson (1885). Brief View of the Caste System of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh: Together with an Examination of the Names and Figures Shown in the Census Report, 1882, Being an Attempt to Classify on a Functional Basis All the Main Castes of the United Provinces, and to Explain Their Gradations of Rank and the Process of Their Formation. 28th February, 1885. North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press.
6. ^ Tilonia®. "Weaving". Tilonia®. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
7. ^ Cittauṛagaṛha (in Hindi). Javāhara Kalā Kendra. 1994.
8. ^ a b "Mrekand: The Divine Artisan - Unveiling The Hindu God Of Weaving | The Indosphere". 1 September 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
9. ^ Hinduism, Glorious (2 July 2019). "The Powerful Bhrigu Rishi". Glorious Hinduism. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
10. ^ "Markandeya – Vyasa Mahabharata". Retrieved 26 November 2023.
11. ^ Rajagopalachari, C. (2020). Mahabharata Ramayana (in Indonesian). IRCISOD. ISBN 978-623-7378-20-4.
12. ^ Commissioner, India Census; Baines, Jervoise Athelstane (1893). Census of India, 1891. Printed at the Assam secretariat printing Office.
13. ^ "Everything you need to know about the six-yard wonder Kanjeevaram". Khinkhwab. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
14. ^ Jacksonville, Florida State College at. "Caste System in Ancient India". Caste System in Ancient India.
15. ^ Gururaghvendra.com (7 May 2023). "जैन धर्म के देवत्व की अवधारणा भाग- प्रथम Jain Dharm ke Devatv Kee Avadharana Bhag Pratham…". Medium. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
16. ^ Śānti (Muni.) (1982). Antarpatha ke yātrī Ācārya Śrī Nāneśa (in Hindi). Śrī A. Bhā. Sādhumārgī Jaina Saṅgha.
17. ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1962). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
18. ^ "Hinduism Basics". Hindu American Foundation. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
19. ^ a b "Beliefs of Hinduism (article) | India". Khan Academy. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
20. ^ Singh, K. S. (1998). People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.). Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-766-1.
21. ^ a b "Hinduism Doctrine and Beliefs". Hindu Council of Australia. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
22. ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1965). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
23. ^ Bhartiya, Ranjeet (25 July 2023). "बलाई समाज गोत्र,सामाजिक संरचना में गोत्रों की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है". Jankari Today. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
24. ^ Naik, Shambhavi (8 February 2020). "The scientific argument for marrying outside your caste". ThePrint. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
25. ^ Center, Pew Research (29 June 2021). "7. Religious practices". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
26. ^ "Census of India 2011: Population, Literacy, Density, Sex Ratio and other information | Education for All in India". 31 October 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
27. ^ "Regional Languages | Legislative Department | India". Retrieved 28 November 2023.
28. ^ Commons, Great Britain Parliament House of (1900). House of Commons Parliamentary Papers: Bills. H.M. Stationery Office.
29. ^ Singh, K. S. (1998). People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.). Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-766-1.
30. ^ Snodgrass, Jeffrey G. (10 August 2006). Casting Kings: Bards and Indian Modernity. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-804140-5.
31. ^ Singh, Kumar Suresh (1998). People of India: India's communities. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-563354-2.

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