User:Purisusa/Khadura

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Kharuda (ଖରୁଡ଼ା) The Khadura or Kharuda (ଖଡୁରା ବା ଖରୁଡ଼ା)is a caste group Hindu Religion mainly inhabitant of Odisha. Some people now days refer it KHADURA Etymology The word, "Khadura" comes from the main word "Khadu" with "ra' pratya. "Khadu" means bangle - metal bangles worn by Odia people. True but KHARUDA people don't make bangles. Traditionally, they are not an artisan caste-group in the socio-cultural region of Odisha. These are poor people in present days and have been engaged in making brass metal lamps for Lord Jagannath for living. Their traditional occupation is the selling of brass and other non-ferrous metals and their alloy products. The caste hierarchy in orissa is based upon the touchability to Lord Jagannath. Karudas are among very few sevaks in the temple ritual who can touch The Lord. Moreover most of the last names they carry are Nayak, Senapati, Mahapatra, Sahu, Subudhi which traditionally are upper class. A major portion of this caste are Suryavanshi. Demography It is said that the original home of this caste was Odisha. They are residing in many parts in Ganjam, Puri, Cuttack and other districts and also in Odia speaking areas of neighbouring states, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand. Occupations The occupation on which the members of the caste/community mainly depend for livelihood is bangle making and selling, which involves manual labour. The women and children of the caste/community as a general practice are also engaged in bangle selling. The caste is in terms of the caste system, identified/linked with traditional craft of bangle making. Some people belonging of this caste have now shifted their occupation to other ones with the change of time and slow dying of the traditional profession. Increasing price of raw materials such as brass, copper etc is also another reason. Most of the people belonging the caste are now doing repairing of utensils, small business like hawking of utensils, opening small shops. Of course, some people have large utensil stores and factories. At one point these people were richest in Ganjam district; perhaps richest in odisha too. Socio-Economic Status They are being an artisan caste-group and as their representation in Legislative Assembly and other Election bodies is nearly Zero, nobody has bothered about the caste. Though they are vey backward, this caste was not enlisted as per Mandal Commission Backward Class until 1998. After efforts of some people of this caste, their caste has been enlisted in the OBC List. It is so unfortunate that officials don't check credibility before including people in OBC list. It should be revoked. As some people, even in Odisha itself, do not know about the caste, people of this caste call themselves as Kansari. As Servitors of Lord Jagannath People of this community especially from Puri Town serves Lord Jagannath during His car festivals as Ghantua. Note that Pujakas and Ghantuas are the only two servitors not paid for their service.They offer their service during journey of deities on Snan Purnima, on the day Car Festival, Entry of Lord Jagannath to Adap Mandap, on the day of Bahuda, the return Journey and on the day of their journey from cars to Bada Deula, the Srimandir. At least, they feels proud for this seva. Ethnographic Literature The ethnographic literature available in "Castes and Tribes of Southern India" by Edgar Thurston, K Rangachari (vol. III, Asian Educational Services, Madras, first published 1909, reprint 1993, p.288) as "Khodura - The name is derived from Khodu, bangle. The Khoduras, Mr Francis writes are "manufacturers of the brass and bell-metal bangles and rings ordinarily worn by the lower class Odiyas. Their headman is called Nahako Sahu, and under him there are deputies called Dhoyi Nahako and Behera............ It is said that the original home of the caste was Odisha, and that it came to Ganjam with Purushottam Deva, the Maharaja of Puri. In its general customs it resembles the Badhoyis.” I Risley in “The Tribes and Castes of Bengal” (Ethnographic Glossary Vol. I, published by Firma Mukhopadhyay, Calcutta, First edition 1891, Reprint 1981, p.472) has mentioned about the cast as “Kharura, makers of brass ornaments in West Bengal”

Reference : DO NCBC Advice No. 16 Orissa/98 dated 11.08.1998