Mang Garodi: Deccan
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Mang Garodi
This article is an extract from THE CASTES AND TRIBES OF H. E. H. THE NIZAM'S DOMINIONS BY SYED SIRAJ UL HASSAN Of Merton College, Oxford, Trinity College, Dublin, and Middle Temple, London. One of the Judges of H. E. H. the Nizam's High Court of Judicature : Lately Director of Public Instruction. BOMBAY THE TlMES PRESS 1920 Indpaedia is an archive. It neither agrees nor disagrees |
Mang Garodi, Rangidas Garodi, Firaste Mang, Pendhari Mang, Pahilwan — a wandering tribe of acrobats and mat-makers found in the Districts of Aurangabad, Bir, Parbhani, Usmanabad and Efidar. They profess to be a branch of the Mang caste of Maharashtra, but are disowned by the latter and, except in name, appear to have no connection with them. They move in gangs, from village to village, carrying their tents, goods and chatels on the backs of bullocks and barren cow-buffaloes. They generally encamp on the outskirts of villages, pitching their ' pals ' (huts) of bamboo mats with openings on all sides and with roofs covered with grass.
Physical Chasacteristics and Habits
The men are strong and well set up and wear, like gymnasts, tight short drawers, a waist band and a carelessly folded rag as head gear. The women are very violent and quarrelsome. Their costume resembles that worn by Maratha females. They wear bangles on their wrists, brass ear-rings in their ears and bead necklaces round their necks. Their hair is never combed nor oiled and lies in dishevelled locks. Both men and women are dark in complexion and extremely ditty, not bathing for days together. They are considered to be habitual criminals and cattle-lifters and are, consequently, under the strict surveillcince of the police. Their home tongue is Marathi but, like other criminal tribes, they have a flash-slang of their own. It is customary among the males never to shave their heads after marriage but to allow the hair to grow on to the end of their lives.
Internal Structure
Mang Garodis have several denomina- tions. They are called Rangidas Garodis, as they colour their bodies before exhibiting acrobatic feats. Their name ' Firaste ' indicates their roving habits and the name Pendhari refers to their criminal propensities ; being athletes, they are known as Pahilwans.
The caste has no endogamous divisions. Their exogamous divisions are based upon family names, some ot which appear to resemble those of the Maratha Kunbis Excepting the Bodkes, all other families interdine and intermarry. The rule of exogamy is strictly observed, and a man is forbidden to marry a girl bearing his own surname. Two sisters may be married to the same man. In matters of prohibited degrees they follow the same laws as the other Mahratha castes.
Mang Garodis admit into their community' members of other castes higher than themselves in social rank. No ceremony is observed on this occasion.
Mang Garodis marry their daughters either as infants or as adults, between the ages of 2 and 20. Sexual intercourse before marriage is tolerated and if a girl become pregnant, her seducer is compelled to marry her. Polygamy is recognised and a man is allowed to have as many wives as he can afford to maintain.
Marriage
The marriage ceremony is very simple. A sheep or a fowl is killed as a sacrifice to their patron deity and the bride, dressed in green, and wearing green bangles and a black bead necklace, is taken to the wedding 'pal.' There the couple are made to stand face to face in bamboo baskets, a cloth is held between them and they are wedded with the sprinkling of grains over their heads. No Brahman attends the ceremony, but the functions of the priest are discharged by the caste elders. A bride-price amounting to Rs. 10 is paid to the parents of the girl.
Widow-Marriage and Divorce
Widows are allowed to marry again and divorce is recognised. A divorced wife may marry again by the same rite as widows ; but she forfeits the custody of all children she raay have had by her first husband.
Inheritance
In point of inheritance, Mang Garodis follow their own« tribal usage. The price received for a girl becomes the property of her father and, failing him, it is divided equally among her brothers.
Religion
Like other nomad tribes, Mang Garodis are still animistic in their beliefs and worship ghosts, evil spirits and the gods of diseases, the chief of whom is Mari Ai, or the goddess that presides over cjiolera. When an epidemic breaks out in the camp, the goddess is worshipped with great pomp by the members of the caste. Bull buffaloes are sacrificed at her altar. The heads are buried before the shrine of the goddess and the trunks and limbs are cooked and eaten by her votaries. Under the influence of Brahmanism their primitive beliefs are undergoing a change and they now pay devotion to the gods of the Hindu pantheon. Khandoba is regarded by the caste as their patron deity and the dog, the emblem of the god, is worshipped by eacn householder on the light 6th of Margashirsha, when onions, brinjals and molasses are offered to the god and the caste people are feasted in his name. They pay reverence also to deified Mohamedan saints and martyrs (Pirs). The tiger is held in special reverence and no member will either injure or kill this wild beast. An oath by the dog is deemed sacred and binding.
Disposal oi the Dead
The dead are buried in a lying posture with the head pointing to the west. The grave is circular and at the bottom a niche is cut for the reception of the head and the chest. The body, after being smeared with oil and washed with water, is carried to the grave by two men in a cloth bag called a ' zoli. The body being lowered into the grave and the head and the chest of tlie corpse placed in the niche, the grave is filled in ; the mourners bathe, hold grass in their mouths and return home. On the 3rd day after death three wheaten cakes are deposited on the top of the grave, one just over the head of the corpse, a second over the middle part and the third over its feet. On the 9th day, jaggery is distributed and a funeral feast is provided for caste brethren. Ancestors in general are propitiated once a year, when a new earthen pot is set up to represent them and is worshipped with the sacrifice of a fowl. Mourn- ing is observed seven days by some and nine days «by others, no definite rule being prescribed on this point.
Social Status
Mang Garodis occupy the lowest position in the Hindu social system, being only higher, in social rank, than Dakalwars, who are their genealogists and eat from their hands. Their touch is regarded as very impure and neither the village barber nor the village washerman will work for them. In matters of diet they have few scruples and eat beef, pork, mutton, fowl, wild cats, jackals, lizards and animals that have died a natural death. They eal the leavings of all castes, except the Dakalwars. They freely indulge in strong drinks.
Occupation
As acrobats, Mang Garodis perform in the streets and entertain their audience by vaulting, tumbling, throwing summer- saults and exhibiting other physical feats. They also make bamboo mats, brooms and ropes and are occasionally engaged as farm labourers and in sinking wells. As already mentioned, they are looked upon by the police as cattle lifters and highway robbers and are not allowed to move from one place to another without a sur- veillance pass. This stringent measure seems to be producing the desired effect, as great numbers of them have repressed their criminal habits and are settling down to peaceful pursuits.
