_Bania, Kasarwani_. [150]--This Hindu subcaste numbers about 6500
persons in the Central Provinces, who belong mainly to Saugor,
Jubbulpore and the three Chhattisgarh Districts. The name is probably
derived from _kansa_, bell-metal, as these Banias retail brass and
bell-metal vessels. The Kasarwanis may therefore not improbably
be an occupational group formed from persons who engaged in the
trade, and in that case they may be wholly or partly derived from
the Kasars and Tameras, the castes which work in brass, copper and
bell-metal. The Kasarwanis are numerous in Allahabad and Mirzapur,
and they may have come to Chhattisgarh from Mirzapur, attracted by the
bell-metal industries in Ratanpur and Drug. In Saugor and also in the
United Provinces they say that they came from Kara Manikpur several
generations ago. If the selling of metal vessels was their original
calling, many, or the majority of them, have now abandoned it, and
deal in grain and groceries, and lend money like other Banias. The
Kasarwanis do not observe the same standard of strictness as the good
Bania subcastes in their social rules. They eat the flesh of goats,
sheep, birds and fish, though they abstain from liquor. They permit the
remarriage of widows and divorce; and women who have been divorced can
marry again in the caste by the same rite as widows. They also allow
the exchange of girls in marriage between two families. They do not as
a rule wear the sacred thread. Their priests are Sarwaria Brahmans,
and these Brahmans and a few Bania subcastes, such as the Agarwalas,
Umres and Gahois, can take food cooked without water from them, but
other Brahmans and Rajputs will not take any kind of food. Matches
are arranged in the presence of the head of the caste _panchayat_,
who is known as Chaudhri. The parents on each side give their consent,
and in pledge of it six pice (farthings) are taken from both of them,
mixed together and given to their family priests and barbers, four
pice to the priests and two to the barbers. The following is a local
derivation of the name; the word _kasar_ means more or the increase,
and _bhata_ means less; and _Hamara kya kasar bhata?_ means 'How
does my account stand?' Hence Kasarbani is one who keeps accounts,
that is a Bania.