Introduction
They are one of the major communities found in almost all north Indian states and a few south Indian states. They are recognized by different names in different parts of the country. Chamara is a word derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Chamakara' meaning ‘leather worker’.
The father of the
caste is ‘Nishada’(who is considered to be the son of a Brahman father and a
Sudra mother) and the mother of the caste is 'Vaidcha'(who is considered to be
the daughter of a Vaisya father and a Brahman mother). They are also known as
‘Mochi’(Punjab) and ‘Bhambi’ (Gujarat, Karnataka, and Maharashtra).
Uttar Pradesh
In UP they are called ‘Raidas’. ‘Raidas’ are divided into
nine subgroups: ‘Antarvedi’, ‘Kuril’, ‘Bokariha’, ‘Dhivar’, ‘Dhuria’,
‘Jaiswara’, ‘Jatlot’, ‘Narchhila’, and ‘Rangiya’. The majority of them speak
Hindi. Hindi is spoken in Avadi or Braj dialects. They practice Hinduism. They
are mainly non-vegetarians and their staple food is wheat, rice, jowar, bajra,
maize, pulses, and vegetables. They practice endogamy at the community level
and exogamy at the village level. Marriage rituals are performed at the bride’s
residence. They cremate the dead and observe death pollution for five days.
They avoid sharing wells and water sources with other communities.
Bihar
In Bihar, the ‘Chamar’ communities are recognized as
‘Charmkar’, ‘Harijan’, and ‘Ravidas’. They speak Bhojpuri or Hindi and use the Devanagari
script. They are non-vegetarians and their staple foods include wheat, maize,
rice, and pulses. Some of the subgroups of ‘Chamar’ are ‘Goriya’, ‘Nagahira’,
and ‘Jaiswara’. The marriageable age is 14-21 for girls and 15-25 for boys.
Nuptials are performed at the groom's residence. Divorce is not allowed.
There are restrictions on pre-delivery and post-delivery.
Post-delivery pollution is observed for ten days. Death pollution is observed
until the ‘Sradh’ ceremony is performed on the thirteenth day. They are Hindus
but their entry into temples is prohibited and participation in traditional
festivals is restricted. Generally, they accept water sources from Brahmans,
Rajputs, Yadva, Bhania, Hajam, Turah, and other communities, but refuse them
from Muslim communities and dorms. Sharing wells with other communities is
prohibited.
Chandigarh
In Chandigarh, the ‘Chamars’ are known as 'Joatia', ‘Chamar’,
‘Reghar’, ‘Raigar’, ‘Ramdasi’, and ‘Ravidasi'. Their mother tongue is Punjabi
or Hindi based on their origin. There is a tendency for them to use the
Gurumukhi/Devanagari script. Their staple food is dal & roti and they are
occasionally non-vegetarians.
The Ramdasias are those who converted to Sikhism and claim
superior status over some of the other sub-groups. Marriages are solemnized at
the bride’s residence following the Sikh tradition of four lavan pheras, called
the Anand keraj among the Ramdasis. In addition, there are seven pheras of the Vedic
tradition among the Ravidasis. A phera refers to the bride’s visit to her natal
home.
The phera is followed by the nuptials at the groom’s
residence. Women have a significant role in agricultural operations and
domestic animal care. They, unlike other communities, cremate the dead and
immerse the mortal remains in Ganga waters at Haridwar. They accept food and
water from other communities as well as share roads, places of worship, and burial
grounds with other communities. They also celebrate festivals such as Holi, Dussehra,
Diwali, Lohri, and Gurupurab.
Dadra and Nagar Havelli
In Dadra and Nagar Havelli, the ‘Chamar’ communities claim
to be shoe sellers in the region and trace their descent to their saint 'Ravi
Das'. They are divided into 50 exogamous clans. Their marriage rituals last for
three days and are performed at the bride’s residence. The principal marriage
ceremony is the mangal fera. Women’s role is restricted to household chores and
participating in rituals.
A pre-birth ritual known as ‘Srimant’ is performed in the seventh month of pregnancy. A post-birth ritual known as ‘Chathi’ is performed. This is followed by a naming ceremony called ‘nam-pari’ and a head shaving ceremony referred to as ‘Babri’ is carried out. Birth pollution is observed for 15 days whereas death pollution is observed for 11 days. As with other castes, they cremate the dead and dispose of mortal remains in the water. Traditionally, they were considered tanners of hides and skin. But now they combine leather work with agriculture. They practice Hinduism and worship Lord Shiva.
They also believe in spirits and the Bhagat is used to pacify and
appease their spirits. Their major places of worship are Ambamata temple in
Gujarat and Moolgangaat in Nasik, Maharashtra. They enjoy celebrating festivals
such as Diwali, Janmashtami, Holi, and Rakshabandhan. They are famous for their art & culture depicted on
their leather products, floor designs, tattooing, garba dance, and folk songs
sung at birth and marriages. They share water with all communities except Dhor
Koli and also share temples with all communities. They have their crematoria.
Gujarat
Gujarat has 'Chamar' communities in almost all districts. They speak the Gujarati language and the Gujarati script is used for both inter & intra group communication. They are mainly non-vegetarians but also eat roti made of wheat, bajra, or jowar along with rice as their staple diet. Women have no decision-making power. A woman is taken to her natal house during her seventh month of pregnancy.
A lamp is lit under the bed on the sixth day after
the child is born. The mother and the child remain secluded for a short time. A
goddess named ‘Chamunda’ is worshipped on the 40th day after childbirth. The
dead are cremated and a little Ganga water, a copper coin, and tulsi leaves are
placed in the dead's mouth. They practice Hinduism and celebrate festivals such
as Holi, Janmashtami, Diwali, and Raksha Bandhan. Their food and water are not
accepted by any other caste except the Bhangi.
The literacy rate in the above-mentioned communities is high
among males compared to females.
Written by Claton Borges Suares
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