Turahiya
Encyclopedia
The Turahiya are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are also known as Turah, Turaha & Turaiha and have scheduled caste status.
, fishermen comminity caste of India. According to the traditions of the community, The Turahiya were traditional employed to play musical instruments, known as a turahi as well as fishing and over time formed a distinct endogamous group within the fishermen community. They are found mainly in Uttar Pradesh
, principally in the districts of western Part.
. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters. As a Dalit
community, they often suffer from societal discrimination. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste
council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.
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...
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...
found in the state of 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...
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 also known as Turah, Turaha & Turaiha and have scheduled caste status.
Origin
The Turahiya are a sub-group within the NishadhaNishadha
Nishadha were scattered peoples, according to sources in Hindu mythology. The Nishadha people have been described in Ramayana and Mahabharata.-Description in Ramayana:The main profession of Nishaadas was hunting birds...
, fishermen comminity caste of India. According to the traditions of the community, The Turahiya were traditional employed to play musical instruments, known as a turahi as well as fishing and over time formed a distinct endogamous group within the fishermen community. They are found mainly in 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...
, principally in the districts of western Part.
Present circumstances
The Turahiya are still employed to play the turahi and other musical instruments on several occasions.However, the majority of the Turahiya are landless agricultural labourerss. The Turahiya remain one of the most marginalized communities in the Uttar PradeshUttar 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...
. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters. 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 often suffer from societal discrimination. Each of their settlement contains an informal 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...
council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.