Kansari, Kansya-Kara

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Kansari, Kansya-Kara

This is an offShoot of the Sonar-banik, outcasted because its members manufactured articles of Kansa, or bell-metal, but nowadays, theay are workers in brass, and are properly Thatheras, or brasiers. In Dacca very few are to be met with, but at Rajnagar, on the right bank of the Padma, they are numerous.

The Kansari is a clean Sudra, having the same Brahman, Napit, and Dhoba as the Nava-sakha; but strange to say, they are all Saivas, no Vaishnavas being found in their ranks. Like other artizan classes they keep the festival of Visva-Karma, and refrain from all work.

They manufacture with brass sheeting procured in Calcutta, and hammered into the requisite shape, small caldrons (Bhokna), salvers, and elongated water pots. Cuttings and filings are fused, and worked up.

The utensils are sold to dealers (Paekar), who retail them in the inland villages.

Chandals often serve the Kansari, and become very skilful workmen.