The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)Crooke, William
History
The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4)
Crooke, William
Caste -- India -- History; Hindus -- India; Tribes -- India -- History
Every one present contributes two annas as dowry. After this the Ganga
pujaiya is done, as already described at births, and the whole business
ends with an offering of rice, curds, and sugar to Ghâzi Miyân, which
is divided among the audience.
[Death ceremonies.] 6. The funeral is carried out in the usual way of
Muhammadans. When it is over the mourners assemble at the house of the
deceased and drink sharbat. On the fourth day they again assemble, and
some verses of the Qurân are read over a vessel containing some sweets
(batâsha), grain, and oil. This is known as kul parhan, and the
contents of the vessel are divided among the audience. The clansmen are
fed on urad pulse and rice, and the faqîr in charge of the grave is
given a present. On the tenth and twentieth day bread and meat are
offered to the spirit of the dead man, and on the fortieth day a final
dinner is given, and next morning they put the clothes, beads, and
water vessel (badhana) of the deceased on his bed and take them to his
grave, where they are left for any one who wishes to carry them away.
An offering of food is made to the family dead at the Shab-i-barât.
[Religion.] 7. Their tribal deities are chiefly Kâlika, Sahjâdi, and
Ghâzi Miyân, three of the quintette of the Pânch Pîr. To Kâlika are
offered in the month of Aghan bread and rice cooked in milk. Sahjâdi is
worshipped at the same time. Ghâzi Miyân’s day is the first Sunday in
the month of Jeth, when his wedding is celebrated. Animal sacrifices
are made, and the meat is consumed by the worshippers. They also
worship a number of local martyrs (shahîd), and they are in great fear
of various demons and ghosts.
[Occupation.] 8. The Dafâli is a beggar, and goes about with a wallet
(jhori) in which he collects what he can get. But he also acts as a
sort of hedge priest to the lower class Musalmâns, and officiates at
marriages, funerals, and the like, for people who cannot afford to pay
for the services of the regular Qâzi. They beg in beats, and each house
has its body of parishioners (jajmân). One of their chief duties is the
exorcising of evil spirits by beating the drum, and driving the effects
of the Evil Eye from children. When a man’s children do not live he
gets the Dafâli to tie a string (baddhi) round the neck of the baby.
They are particularly conspicuous at the fairs of Ghâzi Miyân, whose
shrines they tend, act as his priests, and receive the offerings.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE DAFÂLIS ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS OF 1891.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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