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3.6 Culture
3.6.1 Kinship and Lineage
Badis have ainal, consanguineal, and ictive kinship relations similar to those of other ethnic and caste groups in Nepal. However, they have closer ainal
relationships compared to other relations. Badis say that they like the gunyu a
sarong-like garment relationship, or ainal relationships more. his is more so among Terai Badis because they give more importance to daughters compared
to sons. Hill Badis give more importance to consanguineal relations.
Badis consider son-in-law and nephewniece as special relations. hey respect son-in-laws as
Brahmins priests. he son-in-law or nephew is essential in marriage, death,
bratabandha, or birth rites, etc., to serve as a priest. Other relatives are not essential in any rituals or festivals. hey do not respect close
relatives. According to an experienced Badi man of Rakam, they did do not have family planning. As they marry at a young age, the age of nephew and
uncle is similar. hat is why they do not show any respect while addressing them. his seems to have developed as a tradition. A Badi activist says that when
children grow up they begin to use disrespectful words to address their parents, yet lovingly. However, there has been some change in use of such addresses.
Now they use honoriic language when conversing with parents and seniors.
3.6.2 Lineage and clan
Badis have no gotra, or clan. Most Badi were unaware of gotra. A local Pandit priest
of Rakam VDC also denied knowledge of it. He explained that Kashyap is the gotra
of grass, leaves, animals, and all those who do not have gotra. his may not be true.
Badis initially were caretakers in palaces of petty kings, and later Badi women were made concubines. Children of Badis were not given
gotra. Due to continuation of such occupation, Badis are not a progeny of a ixed ancestor or a clan. So, Badis
have the most mixed ancestry. Group discussion with Badis revealed that because a child gets his or her
gotra from the father, and because children were not accepted as their own lineage by men, they do not have any
gotra. Not a single gotra or lineage name was found among the Badis in the study areas. However, they use surnames.
Such surnames do not afect establishing marriage or other relations with other Badis. here is diference between surname and lineage. Some are descendents of
Sunar, Giri, Budhathoki, Rolpani Bahun, Salyani, Sankoti, Falabagi, Musikoti, and Jajarkoti, while Patar, Badi, Nepali, Rana, Bhand, Damai, Baigar, Singh, Kumal,
Das, Vadyakar, and Gaine are some of the surnames.
3.6.3 Fictive kinshipMiteri: