Bania, Dosar

_Bania, Dosar, Dusra._ [145]--This subcaste numbers about 600

persons. The original name is Dusra or second, and the Dosar or Dusra

are a section of the Ummar Banias, who were so called because they

permit widows to make a second marriage. Their home is the Ganges-Jumna

Doab and Oudh, and in the United Provinces they are classed as an

inferior subcaste of the Ummars. Here they say that the Ummars are

their elder brothers. In the Central Provinces they are said to be

forming three local endogamous groups according as their homes were in

the Doab, Oudh or the Allahabad country; and members of each of these

marry among themselves. The Dosars say that they all belong to the

Kashyap [146] _gotra_ or clan, but for the purpose of marriage they

have territorial or titular exogamous sections; instances of these are

Gangapari, a native of Oudh; Sagarah, a resident of Saugor; Makraha,

a seller of _makka_ or maize, and Tamakhuha, a tobacco-seller. They

pay a bridegroom-price, the full recognised amount of which is Rs. 211,

either in cash or brass cooking-vessels. Those who cannot afford this

sum give half of it or Rs. 105, and the poorest classes pay anything

they can afford. The Dosars are Vaishnava Hindus and employ Sanadhya

Brahmans as their priests. These Brahmans will take food without

water from their clients, but they are an inferior class and are

looked down upon by other Brahmans. The caste are mainly shopkeepers,

and they deal in gold and silver ornaments, as well as grain, tobacco

and all kinds of groceries.

The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India, Volume 2 · 第 155 / 579 题