The tribes and castes of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Volume 2 (of 4) — John Shaqi
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
[Death ceremonies.] 8. The dead, except those who are unmarried or
those dying of cholera or small-pox, are cremated. The others are
buried or their corpses thrown into running water. Within six months
they are cremated in effigy with the usual ritual. The death pollution
lasts ten days, during which, daily, the chief mourner pours water on a
bunch of kusa grass fixed in the ground on the edge of a tank as a
dwelling place for the disembodied spirit. He also daily lays out a
little food for the ghost. They shave on the tenth day and offer sacred
balls (pinda) in the usual way. On that day uncooked grain (sîdha) is
given to Brâhmans, and the clansmen are fed on pork, boiled rice, and
wine.
[Religion.] 9. Bhars are hardly ever initiated into any one of the
regular Hindu sects. Their tribal deities are Agwân Deva, Phûlmati
Bhawâni, the Pânchonpîr, generally represented by Parihâr, and a
deified ghost known as Bânru Bîr. The Pânchonpîr are worshipped in the
months of Jeth or Kuâr with fowls and cakes (malîda). The other deities
require the sacrifice of a pig or goat and an oblation of wine. In
Gorakhpur the tribal godlings are Kâlika and Kâshi Dâs Bâba, a deified
Bhût. His platform is in a jungle in the Deoriya Tahsîl. There they go
once a year to worship him with an offering of cakes, rice, milk, and
curds. Kâlika is worshipped in the house or in the field when it is
ready for the sowing of the spring crop. Her favourite offering is a
young, fat pig. According to Mr. Baillie, Kâshi Dâs is particularly
worshipped by Ahîrs in the Eastern Districts. It is uncertain whether
in life he was a Brâhman or an Ahîr. His votaries number, according to
the last Census returns, 172,599. [25] They have the usual feast to the
dead in Kuâr. Their religious duties are done by Brâhmans of the low
village class. They observe the festivals of the Phagua, Dasami,
Diwâli, Kajari, Khichari, and Tîj. A special sacrifice of a pig is made
to the evil spirits who reside in the old fig trees of the village.
This is done in Aghan. Some go to Gaya to perform the srâddha ceremony.
The pîpal tree is regarded as the abode of Vasudeva, and women bow and
cover their faces as they pass it.
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