Dhanuk
Encyclopedia
The Dhanuk are an ethnic group found in Bangladesh
, India
and Nepal
. In India
, the Dhanuk, who are also known as Dharhi and are found in the states of Haryana
, Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar
. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status. In Nepal
, they are settled in the Terai
districts of Saptari, Siraha
and Dhanusa. They are either Dalit
s or a minority indigenous people, and in Nepal are also called Rajbanshis. The Dhanuks of eastern Terai are known as Kurmi
s, while in the western Terai, they are known Patel
. The Dhanuk in both countries are Hindu
, and speak various dialects of Hindi, such as Bhojpuri
and Awadhi
. According to tradition, the community gets its name from Sanskrit
word dhanushka, meaning a bowman.
caste
, who separated from the parent community, when they took to bow making. According to the traditions of the community, they were originally graziers. They used to graze buffaloes and were fond of wearing white clothes, and once some of their animals entered muddy waters. To avoid getting their clothes dirty, they let their animals drawn. The Dhanuk were then forced to raise pigs, and lost status. They are thus now associated with domestication of pigs, and their women are employed as midwives. The Dhanuk speak various dialects of Hindi.
The Dhanuk are strictly endogamous
, and practice clan exogamy
. Their main clans are the Dhankar, Dholbaja, Kanaujia, Katheria, Khakarpuria, Laungvasta, and Supabandha. All these sub-groups are not of equal status, and there is hierarchy on the bases of their respective occupations. The majority of the Dhanuk are still involved in basket making and pig rearing. A small number of the Dhanuk are a now petty landowners. As a Dalit
community, they face social discrimination. There settlements are found at the edge of villages. The Dhanuk have been granted Scheduled Caste status in India
, and have started to benefit from the affirmative action policies of the Indian government.
are a community of weavers, and are also known as Kabirpanthi. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status, and are found throughout the state. They now speak Haryana, and said have immigrated from Awadh
. The community consits of a number of clans, and practices clan exogamy
. Their main clans include the Nugaria, Khangwal, Ninania, Khetak, Pacherwal, Kerar, Mundadiya, Ladwal, Morwal, Bamania, Mohar, Rangbhaa, Bagadi, Suralia, Solia, Bharor, Atkan, Gorraiya, Boombra, Siyan, Kharera and Andora. The Dhanak are a landless community, with many employed in their taditional occupation of weaving. Most live in multi-caste villages, occupying their own distinct quarters. Each settlement contains traditional caste council known as a biradari panchayat. This acts as an instrument of social control, as well as acting as an informal welfare association.
caste. The baby is caused to cry as soon as it is born. The ghosts are driven away by putting the branches of jujube
and discarded shoes in the main gate of the house. The baby is given the milk of she-goat to drink. Chhaiti is done in six days and Barahi in twelve days. In Barahi, worships and festivities are arranged.
Dhanuks do not marry within the clan nor do they have the practice of cross-cousin marriage. In most of the cases, the parents seek the girl or the boy. Due to the influence of neighbours they also have the system of dowry.
When a Dhanuk dies, the corpse is cremated if the deceased is above 12 years of age and is buried if her or she is below 12 years.
The houses of Dhanuks are plastered with mud and pictures are drawn of mud, too. Women go outside for work but a male member remains the head of the family. Lots of feasts are organized on various occasions. Some Dhanuks never drink spirit and jaand but Dhanuks in general have the practice of drinking raksi
or spirit.
The houses of Dhanuks are built in cluster in the river basins and edges of forests. They like to settle in river basins. A group of ten or eleven households makes a bindar committee and five bindars constitute a praganna. The chief of praganna is called maijan. There is one post, called chaurasi, above him. These institutions manage tribal reconciliation and settlement of disputes. Those who do not abide by rules are expelled from the ethnic group. Mandal, Mahato and Kurmi
are their thars (clans).
Since they dwell in the river basins and the edges of forests, they do fishing and animal husbandry. Some people of various types within the Dhanuks are even big landowners, but the Dhanuks who belong to the group of minority nationality are absolutely landless. They earn their livelihood by working as agriculture labourers and household servants.
s are appointed as priests while in other places they use Dhanuk priests. Dhanuks believe in magic, witchcraft and ghosts. They are divided into two groups in terms of religion: those who worship Kali
are called Kaliyaha and others are called Maharkhiya. Those who worship Kali eat meat of pig (pork) and drink spirit or wine, whereas Maharkhiyas do not do so. They worship a goddess called Gahil, who is one of five sisters. The other goddesses are Shitalmata and Goureya Gaiya. The main occupation of Dhanuks is working for big zamindar
s (landowners) and farming.
, Nepal
, and Bangladesh
. In Nepal
, the Dhanuks are scattered from Morang in the east to the Terai in the west. But they Dhanuk are also found in Saptari, Siraha and Dhanusa in the east. Their main area of settlement streches from Saptari to Dhanusa in the plain inner valley south of the Churia hills. It is hard to tell the population of minority nationality of Dhanuks in Nepal. In India
, they are found in a wide region stretching from Haryana
to Bihar
.
, their language is similar to the Tharu
. They are influenced by Hindu
religion and the Indian culture across the border.
In India
, the Dhanuk of north Bihar
speak Maithili
, while those of eastern Uttar Pradesh
speak Awadhi.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Dhanuk, who are also known as Dharhi and are found in the states of Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status. In Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, they are settled in the Terai
Terai
The Terai is a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests located south of the outer foothills of the Himalaya, the Siwalik Hills, and north of the Indo-Gangetic Plain of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and their tributaries. The Terai belongs to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion...
districts of Saptari, Siraha
Siraha
Siraha Nepal is the headquarters of Siraha District, a part of Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. The town is located at an altitude of 64 metres .It has the population of 572,399 according to the statistics of 2001.It is not event the town or the cities,a small BAZAAR.The political condition is not well of...
and Dhanusa. They are either Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
s or a minority indigenous people, and in Nepal are also called Rajbanshis. The Dhanuks of eastern Terai are known as Kurmi
Kurmi
The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
s, while in the western Terai, they are known Patel
Patel
Patel is a surname of Indian origin, originally meaning "headman" or"village chief". Patels are socially, economically and politically the most dominant caste in Gujarat Patels are basically Kurmis or Kunbis and are found in various geographical locations. The Kunbi are an Indian subcaste...
. The Dhanuk in both countries are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, and speak various dialects of Hindi, such as Bhojpuri
Bhojpuri language
Bhojpuri is a language spoken in parts of north-central and eastern India. It is spoken in the western part of state of Bihar, the northwestern part of Jharkhand, and the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh , as well as adjoining parts of the Nepal Terai. Bhojpuri is also spoken in Guyana,...
and Awadhi
Awadhi language
Awadhi is an Indo-Aryan language, part of the Hindi-Urdu continuum. It is spoken chiefly in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, although its speakers are also found in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Nepal. Furthermore, the Fiji Hindi dialect spoken by Indo-Fijians is considered a variant of Awadhi,...
. According to tradition, the community gets its name from Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
word dhanushka, meaning a bowman.
In India
In India, the Dhanuk community are traditionally associated with the manufacture of bamboo baskets. According to some traditions, they are a branch of the BasorBasor
The Basor are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dumar, and have scheduled caste status.-Origin:...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, who separated from the parent community, when they took to bow making. According to the traditions of the community, they were originally graziers. They used to graze buffaloes and were fond of wearing white clothes, and once some of their animals entered muddy waters. To avoid getting their clothes dirty, they let their animals drawn. The Dhanuk were then forced to raise pigs, and lost status. They are thus now associated with domestication of pigs, and their women are employed as midwives. The Dhanuk speak various dialects of Hindi.
The Dhanuk are strictly endogamous
Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
, and practice clan exogamy
Exogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
. Their main clans are the Dhankar, Dholbaja, Kanaujia, Katheria, Khakarpuria, Laungvasta, and Supabandha. All these sub-groups are not of equal status, and there is hierarchy on the bases of their respective occupations. The majority of the Dhanuk are still involved in basket making and pig rearing. A small number of the Dhanuk are a now petty landowners. As a Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
community, they face social discrimination. There settlements are found at the edge of villages. The Dhanuk have been granted Scheduled Caste status in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and have started to benefit from the affirmative action policies of the Indian government.
The Dhanuk of Haryana
The Dhanak of HaryanaHaryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
are a community of weavers, and are also known as Kabirpanthi. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status, and are found throughout the state. They now speak Haryana, and said have immigrated from Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
. The community consits of a number of clans, and practices clan exogamy
Exogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
. Their main clans include the Nugaria, Khangwal, Ninania, Khetak, Pacherwal, Kerar, Mundadiya, Ladwal, Morwal, Bamania, Mohar, Rangbhaa, Bagadi, Suralia, Solia, Bharor, Atkan, Gorraiya, Boombra, Siyan, Kharera and Andora. The Dhanak are a landless community, with many employed in their taditional occupation of weaving. Most live in multi-caste villages, occupying their own distinct quarters. Each settlement contains traditional caste council known as a biradari panchayat. This acts as an instrument of social control, as well as acting as an informal welfare association.
In Nepal
The rites of birth, death and marriage are performed by giving due importance like other tribes. The pregnant woman is kept in a separate home to arrange assistance from dagrin (midwife) of ChamarChamar
Chamar |tanner]]"; from the Sanskrit Charmakara) is a prominent occupational caste in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Chamar is a Dalit sub-caste mainly found in the northern states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and in Nepal at least north to the Himalayas...
caste. The baby is caused to cry as soon as it is born. The ghosts are driven away by putting the branches of jujube
Jujube
Ziziphus zizyphus , commonly called jujube , red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, used primarily as a fruiting shade tree.-Distribution:Its precise natural distribution is uncertain due to extensive cultivation,...
and discarded shoes in the main gate of the house. The baby is given the milk of she-goat to drink. Chhaiti is done in six days and Barahi in twelve days. In Barahi, worships and festivities are arranged.
Dhanuks do not marry within the clan nor do they have the practice of cross-cousin marriage. In most of the cases, the parents seek the girl or the boy. Due to the influence of neighbours they also have the system of dowry.
When a Dhanuk dies, the corpse is cremated if the deceased is above 12 years of age and is buried if her or she is below 12 years.
The houses of Dhanuks are plastered with mud and pictures are drawn of mud, too. Women go outside for work but a male member remains the head of the family. Lots of feasts are organized on various occasions. Some Dhanuks never drink spirit and jaand but Dhanuks in general have the practice of drinking raksi
Raksi
Raksi or Rakshi is a traditional distilled alcoholic beverage in Tibet and Nepal. It is often made at home.Raksi is usually made from kodo millet or rice; different grains produce different flavors. It can even be made from mulberries...
or spirit.
The houses of Dhanuks are built in cluster in the river basins and edges of forests. They like to settle in river basins. A group of ten or eleven households makes a bindar committee and five bindars constitute a praganna. The chief of praganna is called maijan. There is one post, called chaurasi, above him. These institutions manage tribal reconciliation and settlement of disputes. Those who do not abide by rules are expelled from the ethnic group. Mandal, Mahato and Kurmi
Kurmi
The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
are their thars (clans).
Since they dwell in the river basins and the edges of forests, they do fishing and animal husbandry. Some people of various types within the Dhanuks are even big landowners, but the Dhanuks who belong to the group of minority nationality are absolutely landless. They earn their livelihood by working as agriculture labourers and household servants.
Beliefs
In some places BrahminBrahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
s are appointed as priests while in other places they use Dhanuk priests. Dhanuks believe in magic, witchcraft and ghosts. They are divided into two groups in terms of religion: those who worship Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
are called Kaliyaha and others are called Maharkhiya. Those who worship Kali eat meat of pig (pork) and drink spirit or wine, whereas Maharkhiyas do not do so. They worship a goddess called Gahil, who is one of five sisters. The other goddesses are Shitalmata and Goureya Gaiya. The main occupation of Dhanuks is working for big zamindar
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
s (landowners) and farming.
Distribution
The Dhanuks live all across IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, and Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
. In Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, the Dhanuks are scattered from Morang in the east to the Terai in the west. But they Dhanuk are also found in Saptari, Siraha and Dhanusa in the east. Their main area of settlement streches from Saptari to Dhanusa in the plain inner valley south of the Churia hills. It is hard to tell the population of minority nationality of Dhanuks in Nepal. In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, they are found in a wide region stretching from Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
to Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
.
Language
In NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, their language is similar to the Tharu
Tharu language
Tharu is an Eastern zone Indo-Aryan language, or cluster of languages, spoken by the Tharu people. Not all Tharu speak distinct languages, but the languages of those who do may be divided as follows,...
. They are influenced by Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religion and the Indian culture across the border.
In India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, the Dhanuk of north Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
speak Maithili
Maithili language
Maithili language is spoken in the eastern region of India and South-eastern region of Nepal. The native speakers of Maithili reside in Bihar, Jharkhand,parts of West Bengal and South-east Nepal...
, while those of eastern Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
speak Awadhi.
External links
- Dhanuk Community You can share your view, experience etc.
- Blog-Dhanuk