Orh

The Orh are a Hindu caste found in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. They are Scheduled Caste status in Uttarakhand, and are also known as Mistri and Raj They are rajputs in orrisa by origin and are ancestors of "samrat sagar " who was a kshatriya. Further they migrated to different states of India who falls under General catagory .[1]

History

The Orh are one of the communities of Dom origin found in the Kumaon and Garhwal divisions of Uttrakhand. Traditionally, they are masons. According to various sources, they originated in Western Nepal where many remain. They speak either Kumaoni or Garhwali, although most understand Hindi.[2]

In Pakistan they are Rajputs. Hindus and Muslims both, they live in the south-eastern province of Sindh in Pakistan. Believing that they are of Rajput (Raj means king) origin, even in Rajasthan they use Rajput[3] with their name and believe that the Orh king[4] King Bhagiratha was their ancestor.[5]

Rituals

The Orh live in multi-caste villages in the middle and lower altitudes of Kumaon and are strictly endogamous. Their society is internally segmented into patrilineages, locally called raths. The rath is an exogamous grouping of members sharing descent from a common ancestor. These clans further sub-divide into das and teen, close and distant agnate groups who share birth and death rituals.

Economy

The hereditary calling of the Orh is stonework and masonry, with agriculture and animal husbandry as secondary occupations. Like many artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation of masonry, although many work in the commercial construction industry. They have a caste council, referred to as a panchayat, which resolves community disputes, such as elopement, theft or adultery.

Religion

They follow Hinduism but incorporate many animistic practices. Their gods and deities are mostly of local origins such as Sheipal, who is their presiding deity, and his consort, Devi. Other important deities include Gangnath and Bhairav. Part of their belief is shamanistic.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 1450 to 1455 Manohar Publications
  2. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 1450 to 1455 Manohar Publications
  3. ↑ Oad Rajput Welfare Association pakistan on YouTube
  4. ↑ hi:ओडिशा#राज्य के नाम की उत्पत्ति
  5. ↑ Odki|about oad people http://kcm.co.kr/bethany_eng/p_code4/732.html
  6. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das pages 1450 to 1455 Manohar Publications

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