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{{Short description|Indian caste}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name=Balai or Balahi
Balai weavers are said to be descendants of the [[Mrikanda|Rishi Mrikanda]] who was born in the clan of '''[[Bhrigu|Bhrigu Rishi]]'''.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2023-09-01 |title=Mrekand: The Divine Artisan - Unveiling The Hindu God Of Weaving {{!}} The Indosphere |url=https://theindosphere.com/religion/mrekand-the-hindu-god-of-weaving/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hinduism |first=Glorious |date=2019-07-02 |title=The Powerful Bhrigu Rishi |url=https://glorioushinduism.com/2019/07/01/bhrigu/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=Glorious Hinduism |language=en-US}}</ref>Mrikanda is known as the father of modern weaving, He is also venerated as the father of [[Markandeya]], the rishi (sage) who is featured extensively in the Markandeya Purana.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Markandeya – Vyasa Mahabharata |url=https://www.vyasaonline.com/encyclopedia/markandeya/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |language=en-US}}</ref>▼
|caste_name_in_local=
|varna=Shudra
|image=Tradition loom works.jpg
|caption=Traditional occupation of Balais
|religions=Hinduism
|languages=Nimadi, Dhundari, Marwadi, Punjabi, Kashmiri and Gujarati
|country=India
|related=[[Salvi (caste)|Salvi]], [[Meghwal]], [[Koli people|Koli]]
|state=Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh
}}
The '''Balai''', '''Raj Balai''', '''Balahi''' '''or Bunkar\Sutarkar''' are found in the states of [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Delhi]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]] in India.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nesfield |first=John Collinson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuU-AAAAYAAJ&dq=bunkar+balai+caste&pg=PA25 |title=Brief View of the Caste System of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh: Together with an Examination of the Names and Figures Shown in the Census Report, 1882, Being an Attempt to Classify on a Functional Basis All the Main Castes of the United Provinces, and to Explain Their Gradations of Rank and the Process of Their Formation. 28th February, 1885 |date=1885 |publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfAMAQAAMAAJ&q=balai%5C+balahi&pg=PA1092 |title=Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles |date=1996 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |isbn=978-0-19-563357-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=General |first=India Office of the Registrar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibzElgStAFkC&q=raj+Balai |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1962 |publisher=Manager of Publications |pages=Page no. 14 ( Sutarkars mention themselves as bunkars) |language=en}}</ref>
similar : The Kanjeevaram Silk Weavers are also considered as descendants of Rishi Markanda, who was considered to be the ''weaver of the clothes that Gods themselves wore.'' In this way it can be said that all the weaver communities in Hinduism associated with rishi mrikanda too.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Muthukumar |first=Roshini |date=2020-02-25 |title=The Weavers Of Kanchipuram |url=https://nsoj.in/stories/the-weavers-of-kanchipuram |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=nsoj.in |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Tradition loom works.jpg|thumb|Tradition occupation of Balais<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhatt |first=Hitanshu |title=Handloom Communities of India are Keeping Alive the Weaving Legacy! |url=https://www.localsamosa.com/2023/08/07/handloom-communities-of-india-are-keeping-alive-the-weaving-legacy/ |access-date=2023-11-26 |website=www.localsamosa.com |language=en}}</ref>]]'''Weaving''' is the traditional occupation of Balais'''.'''<ref name=":1" />▼
== Balai as Weaver ==
'''Bhalse''' are the sub group from the caste of balai some of the bhalse's are still doing the work of weaving. Bhalse's are bunkars and belong to the [[Vaishya|'''vaishya (Bania)''']] caste. they are attached with the work of weaving or selling.▼
Balai is the bad pronounastion of hindi word "बुनाई", the word "Balai" itself is mean to weaving <ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Mayer |first=Adrian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bMPLEAAAQBAJ&dq=balai+caste&pg=PA152 |title=Caste and Kinship in Central India: A Village and its Region |date=2023-07-28 |publisher=Univ of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-31349-1 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nesfield |first=John Collinson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuU-AAAAYAAJ&dq=bunkar+balai+caste&pg=PA25 |title=Brief View of the Caste System of the North-Western Provinces and Oudh: Together with an Examination of the Names and Figures Shown in the Census Report, 1882, Being an Attempt to Classify on a Functional Basis All the Main Castes of the United Provinces, and to Explain Their Gradations of Rank and the Process of Their Formation. 28th February, 1885 |date=1885 |publisher=North-Western Provinces and Oudh Government Press |language=en}}</ref> Weaving is the traditional occupation of Balais'''.'''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tilonia® |title=Weaving |url=https://www.tilonia.com/blogs/artisans/weaving |access-date=2023-12-07 |website=Tilonia® |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HcMYAAAAYAAJ&q=%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88+%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%88 |title=Cittauṛagaṛha |date=1994 |publisher=Javāhara Kalā Kendra |language=hi}}</ref>
▲
Jain Shravak Sangha had preached among the Balai community in 1964 near Ratlam in village Guradia. Acharya Nanalal Maharaj from Jain Shravak Sangha gave '''Dharampal Jain Samaj''' to the balai community in the name of ''Lord Dharmanath'', who was among the <u>Tirthankaras of Jain society.</u> Currently 1.25 lakh people of Malviya and Gujarati Balai community across the country have become Dharampal Jains.[https://www.bhaskar.com/latest-nagda-news-061503-1642471.html/#:~:text=%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A5%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%20%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%20%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%82%20%E0%A4%8F%E0%A4%95%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%20%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A5%A4%20%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%20%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%BE%20%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B2%20%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A8]▼
▲similar : The Kanjeevaram Silk Weavers are also considered as descendants of Rishi Markanda, who was considered to be the ''weaver of the clothes that Gods themselves wore.'' In this way it can be said that all the weaver communities in Hinduism associated with rishi mrikanda too.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web
▲'''
== Beliefs ==▼
caste. They are attached with the work of weaving or selling.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jacksonville |first=Florida State College at |title=Caste System in Ancient India |url=https://fscj.pressbooks.pub/worldreligions/chapter/caste-system-in-ancient-india/ |journal=Caste System in Ancient India |language=en}}</ref>
== Balai as Jain ==
Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian cause they belief in Bali ([[Animal sacrifice in Hinduism|animal sacrifice]]) Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri. At present most of the people of the community choose to be '''pure [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]].'''<ref>{{Citation |title=Animal sacrifice in Hinduism |date=2023-10-29 |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Animal_sacrifice_in_Hinduism&oldid=1182405397 |work=Wikipedia |access-date=2023-11-25 |language=en}}</ref>▼
▲[[Jainism|Jain Shravak Sangha]] had preached among the Balai community in 1964 near Ratlam in village Guradia. Acharya Nanalal Maharaj from Jain Shravak Sangha gave '''Dharampal Jain Samaj''' to the balai community in the name of ''Lord Dharmanath'', who was among the
== Balai as Raj Balai ==
Historically the Raj Balais are said to be [[Royal Administration of Merovingian and Carolingian Dynasties|royal messengers]], they used to convey messages from one [[Monarchy|kingdom]] to another kingdom at the ancient times . '[[Wiktionary:राज|Raj]]' is the synonym Royal therefore the Balais who was engaged in such royal services called Raj Balais. <ref>{{Cite book |last=General |first=India Office of the Registrar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibzElgStAFkC&q=sutarkar |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1962 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref>
▲== Beliefs ==
Balai are [[Hindus]] by religion. They are devotees of [[Durga|Maa Durga]], [[Chamunda|Maa Chamunda]] and Maa [[Kalaratri]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hinduism Basics |url=https://www.hinduamerican.org/hinduism-basics/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Hindu American Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> They also pay tribute to [[Ramdev Pir|Baba Ramdeo Ji]] and consider "[[Kalaratri|KALRATRI]]" as their [[kuldevi]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Beliefs of Hinduism (article) {{!}} India |url=https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/south-east-se-asia/india-art/a/beliefs-of-hinduism |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Khan Academy |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&q=balai%20hindu&pg=PP1 |title=People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.) |date=1998 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-766-1 |language=en}}</ref> Balais do not marry in their families or within their gotra.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Hinduism Doctrine and Beliefs |url=https://hinducouncil.com.au/new/hinduism/hinduism-doctrine-and-beliefs/ |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=Hindu Council of Australia |language=en-US}}</ref> Balai have mixed gotras in their caste due to caste conversions. Balais are divided into a number of exogamous gotras such as Chouhan, Rathore, Parihar, Parmar, Solanki,<ref>{{Cite book |last=General |first=India Office of the Registrar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPAeAQAAMAAJ&q=Chauhan |title=Census of India, 1961 |date=1965 |publisher=Manager of Publications |language=en}}</ref> Marichi, Atri, August, Bhardwaj, Matang, Dhaneshwar, Mahachand, Jogchand, Jogpal, Meghpal, Garva and Jaipal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhartiya |first=Ranjeet |date=2023-07-25 |title=बलाई समाज गोत्र,सामाजिक संरचना में गोत्रों की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका है |url=https://jankaritoday.com/balai-samaj-gotra/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Jankari Today |language=en-GB}}</ref> They live in multi-caste villages in their own areas and bury their dead.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naik |first=Shambhavi |date=2020-02-08 |title=The scientific argument for marrying outside your caste |url=https://theprint.in/science/the-scientific-argument-for-marrying-outside-your-caste/360975/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>
▲Balais are traditionally non-vegetarian cause they belief in Bali ([[Animal sacrifice in Hinduism|animal sacrifice]]).<ref name=":1" /> Animal sacrifice is the part of worshiping Maa Durga and Kalaratri.<ref name=":2" /> At present most of the people of the community choose to be '''pure [[Vegetarianism|vegetarian]].'''<ref>{{
== Population ==
According to [[2011 census of India|2011 Census of India]], Rajasthan showed their population as 306,034 contributing 9.11% in state, while there are 2,668,000 in over all country
== Language ==
They speak [[Languages of India|languages]] like [[Nimadi language|Nimadi]], [[Dhundari language|Dhundari]], [[Marwari language|Marwadi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Kashmiri language|Kashmiri]] and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] in various Indian states.
== Other ==
* Sometimes balai is also referred as [[Kabirpanthi Julaha#:~:text=The Kabirpanthi Julaha are a,They are followers of Kabirdas.&text=They are classified as an,Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.|Julaha]] and [[Meghwal]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Commons |first=Great Britain Parliament House of |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n71DAQAAMAAJ&dq=julaha+balai+caste&pg=PA358 |title=House of Commons Parliamentary Papers: Bills |date=1900 |publisher=H.M. Stationery Office |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=K. S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC&q=meghwal+balai |title=People of India: Rajasthan (2 pts.) |date=1998 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7154-766-1 |language=en}}</ref> Originally most of balais are associate themselves to Meghwal community and refer themselves as Meghwal and Meghvanshi.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Snodgrass |first=Jeffrey G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uP8r9JAs7xkC&q=megh%20rishi&pg=PR3 |title=Casting Kings: Bards and Indian Modernity |date=2006-08-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-804140-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Singh |first=Kumar Suresh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g9MVAQAAMAAJ&q=megh+rishi |title=People of India: India's communities |date=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-563354-2 |language=en}}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{India-ethno-stub}}▼
[[Category:Weaving communities of South Asia]]
[[Category:Social groups of Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Social groups of Rajasthan]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Bania communities]]
▲{{India-ethno-stub}}
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