A Study on the Socio-Economic Condition of Do...

A Study on the Socio-Economic Condition of Doms in Varanasi District of Uttar Pradesh

Author Name : Ankita Rai, Prof. (Dr.) Jahanara

ABSTRACT

Dom Community has been declared as scheduled caste in Varanasi district, State of Uttar Pradesh in 2011 census of India. Dom community of Varanasi perform an important task of cremation of Hindu’s at Manikarnika and Harishchandra ghat of Varanasi district. As per the 2011 census of India they have population of 110,353 only. They are known as the caretaker of cremation ground in Varanasi and descended of Dom Raja. Though they are entrusted with this sacred task of carrying out a Hindu’s final rituals but they are treated as untouchables. There is a hierarchical system in their community where first level occupied by Dom raja, the second level by the leaders of sub-groups of Doms or manger and third is the worker or cremators. These groups work on the ghat according to the paari system, which can be translated as a shift system. The cremation business is the only source of their livelihood, when more people are cremated on the Ghat they make more money while nowadays some of them earn through other job also like running shop or work in nagar nigam. Workers live in cemented congested room with 7-8 family members, most of them are uneducated and girls are married at a very younger age. Consanguineous marriage is practiced there and widow marriage is also permitted for younger ones only.

Keywords: Dom, Cremation, Manikarnika Ghat, Harishchandra Ghat, Moksha, Untouchables, Dom Raja, Burning, Socio-Economic, Paari System, Pyre, Marriage.