The Dewars especially worship Devi Maha Mai and Dulha Deo. To the
former they offer a she-goat and to the latter a he-goat which must be
of a dark colour. They worship their _dhungru_ or musical instrument
on the day of Dasahra. They consider the sun and the moon to be brother
and sister, and both to be manifestations of the deity. They bury their
dead, but those who are in good circumstances dig up the bones after a
year or two and burn them, taking the ashes to a sacred river. Mourning
lasts for seven or ten days according as the deceased is unmarried or
married, and during this time they abjure flesh and oil. Their social
rules are peculiar. Though considered impure by the higher castes,
they will not take cooked food from a Brahman, whom they call a
Kumhati Kida, or an insect which effects the metamorphosis of others
into his own form, and who will therefore change them into his own
caste. Nor will they take cooked food from members of their own caste,
but they accept it from several of the lower castes including Gonds,
whose leavings they will eat. This is probably because they beg from
Gonds and attend their weddings. They keep pigs and pork is their
favourite food, but they do not eat beef. They have a tribal council
with a headman called Gaontia or Jemadar, who always belongs either
to the Sonwani or Telasi section. Among offences for which a man is
temporarily put out of caste is that of naming his younger brother's
wife. He must also abstain from going into her room or touching her
clothes. This rule does not apply to an elder brother's wife.