Balai

For other uses, see Balai (disambiguation).

The Balai, Raj Balai, Balahi, Bunkar, or Sutarkar/Suutkar/सूतकार are found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in India.^[1][2][3] Hindu Bunkar(बुनकर) caste spell or know as Balai.^[3] Category of Balai or Bunkar caste may vary from state to state as scheduled caste(SC) or Other backward caste(OBC).^[4][5][6][7]

Balai
Traditional occupation of Balais
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati
Country	India
Original state	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
Related groups	Salvi

Balai as weavers

Balai is a transliteration of the Hindi word बुनाई. The word means weaving.^[8][9] Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balais.^[10]

According to Hindu texts, all weavers in Hinduism are the descendants of Rishi Mrikanda.^[11] Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving.

Bunkar(weaver) is a suitable name for the caste of balai as it represent the exact character and both are referred to be same, they belong to the vaishya caste/varna,they work in weaving or selling.^{[12][13][14][15]}

Jainism

Jain Shravak Sangha preached to the Balai community in 1964, near Ratlam, in the village Guradia. Jain Shravak Sangha gave Dharampal Jain Samaj to the Balai community, in the name of Dharmanatha. About 1.25 lakh people of the Malviya and Gujarati Balai communities are Dharampal Jains.^[16][17]

Raj Balai

Historically, the Raj Balais were royal messengers. They used to convey messages from one kingdom to another kingdom in ancient times. Raj means royal, therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais.^[3]

Beliefs

Balai are Hindus by religion. They are devotees of Maa Durga, Maa Chamunda and Maa Kalaratri.^[18] They also pay tribute to Baba Ramdeo Ji and consider Kalarati as their kuldevi.^[19] Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.^[20] Balais are divided into a number of gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki, Brejwal, Bunker^[3] Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.^[21] They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.^[22]

Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian as they believe in bali (animal sacrifice). Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri.^[20][23]

History

The Balai or Balahi caste is a functional caste of weavers and village chowkidars/kotwals. Historically they was engaged in works like weaving, and as further when a group separately moved towards into weaving work alone, they were given the weaving related names of Balai or Bunkar.^{[24][25][26][27]}

In Rajasthan and Gujarat states of India they are specifically associated with Meghwal community due to their various cultural similarities like handicrafts and embroidery work.^[28][29][30]

Population

According to the 2011 census of India, there are 2,668,000 Balais in India.^[31]

Language

Balais speak languages including Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati.^[32]

Other

Sometimes, Balai is referred to as Julaha and Meghwal.^[19][33] Originally, most Balais associated themselves with the Meghwal community.^[34][35][28]

Frequently ask question and myths -

• Is balai or balahi caste similar to Chamar(jatav) caste ? , No they both are completely distinct caste of different work and culture, they are not same.^[36][37]
• Is balai and meghwal same ? ,yes in some cases.