Latest revision as of 06:46, 20 December 2015

[edit] Nagar, Bhagalpur

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[edit] Origin and internal structure

A small cultivating caste of Bhagalpur and the Santal Parganas. The affinities of the Nagars are obscure. They have lost their original sections and the whole caste now professes to belong to the Kdsyapa goim, a section name borrowed from the Brahmanical system and in coperative for the purpose of controlling intermarriage. They are divided into five sub-castes-Jethaut, Pulauns, Nagbansi, Kathautia, Bhatnagar. Of these all are endogamous except the first two, which have begun to intermarry within the last fifteen years. In all the sub-castes the degrees prohibited for marriage are defined by the formula chachera, mameTd, etc., calculated to seven generations in the descending line.

[edit] Marriage

Both infant and adult marriage are in vogue, and polygamy is recognized in the event of the first wife being barren. marriage ceremony is of the stondard low-caste type, sunddain being its essential portion.

Widows may marry again by the sagai form, and are subject to no restrictions in their choice of a husband. Divorce is not permitted.

[edit] Religion

In their religious and ceremonial observances Nagars do not appear to depart materially from the standard ordinances of popular Hinduism. They employ Brahmans as their priests, who are received on terms of equality by other members of the saccred order.

[edit] Social status

Their social status is low, and they rank just above the Dosadhs, with whom they will smoke, using the same hookah. N either Brahmans nor members of the castes from whom Brahmans can take water will accept water from the hands of a Nagar. Some few have risen to the position of tenure-holders, but the large majority of the caste are occupaney or non-occupancy raiyats and landless day-labourers. The following statement shows the number and distribution of Nagars in 1872 and 1881:¬