Festivals Life Circle and Rituals

39 2014 38 2014 After the couple discussed between themselves, they decided to send the second eldest son. hus, this middle son is called one who has been sacriiced. hat is why the second eldest son should not perform funeral rites of his parents. In the past Badis were not allowed to cremate. he kings and nobles imposed such restrictions because cremation was done by Bahuns. So Badis were not allowed to do what Bahuns did. But nowadays Badi cremate the dead. here is a belief that the pyre should be purchased. he chief mourner ofers two to three hundred rupees for the purchase of the pyre. After the body has been completely burned or even if some small portions are not burnt some pieces of the body are tied with the wat and placed in the river, which means that it reaches Kashi. Alternatively, the pieces are cooled in a religious site. hen the mourners bathe. he children of the dead have their heads shaved by the relative serving as the priest Bahun. All ofspring of the dead should wear white clothes. All mourners bathe or sprinkle water on their bodies. In other communities, it is decided at the ghat the duration of death pollution. But in the case of Badis when the mourners return home they build a ire near the house, adding thorns and pressing both under a stone. he mourners next step on the stone, and then they are sprinkled with barley, sesame, and gold water and decide the duration of pollution, usually three, ive, seven, nine, eleven, or thirteen days. According to the elders, it is decided on the basis of the economic condition of the household. But usually it is seven days at the maximum. On the day of puriication, the role of Bahun is paramount. he day before the puriication is the day of eating the katto katto khane, when they go the river bank at three or four in the morning and the family members and the chief mourners eat chicken, yogurt, and milk, and the chief mourner also takes salt. On the day of puriication, because relatives and other people do not eat at the deceased’s house, they are given fruits. hey organize a feast by sacriicing a pig or a goat. he Bahun gives dana to the daughters and sisters by putting tika of yogurt, and puriies the house by sprinkling gold water. he Bahun is also discharged after they receive dakshina, as much as the household can give. It is believed that the deceased would reincarnate in the animal whose ingerprints are found near the house during the night. A winnowing tray with ashes in it is placed in the rafter of the roof. hado kriya is the rite performed the day after death, after noon of the next day. After death, no one in the household is allowed inside other people’s house and vice versa. Badiss would not observe death pollution for a long time because they need to beg at other’s house for their daily food. Even if the deceased is not a close relative, they perform the thado kriya.

3.8.5 Festivals

As Badi are Hindus, they observe many Hindu festivals. here are some festivals which are observed diferently by the Badis, and they have diferent beliefs about such festivals. he irst day of Asar month is celebrated by eating good and sweet food. In the rainy season, after Asar, Badis need to move through many hills and cross rivers when going from one village to another. As there is always the risk of falling or drowning in the rivers, they eat good food because of the danger and insecurity of their life in the month of Asar. Ghiya Sankranti is the irst day of Bhandra month. he day is also called luto falne, or removing scabies. his festival is observed by taking a sigh of relief that they will survive for a year because the rainy season is over. Many dishes are made of ghee. hat night they discard the scabies. Because they needed to step in mud as they traveled from village to village in the rainy season, they would contract scabies and they observe this festival for discarding it. It is believed that by observing it, they would not be infected with scabies for the next year. In this ceremony, a lamp is lighted of salli and coal is made. he coal is ground with a big hammer. his is called budhi patkaune. hen the coal is thrown outside the house, they are asking to take away their scabies. On Dume Aunshi, Badi and other Dalits perform shradda, a funeral rite. Badi and other Dalits are usually not able to do the shraddha once a year after the death of their parents. God had ordered all Dalits to do their shradda on a ixed day, so they do it on Dume Aunshi, according to Tile Badi. Dalits are often called Dum, because all Dalits do shradda on this day, the new moon day is called Dume Aunshi. Badis also worship ancestral deities. he household head performs the puja after consulting with the eldest member of the family. One mana of rice, some coins, turmeric, goat, and red lags are put in a green leaf-plate and given to the head of the house. he shrine of the ancestral deity resides at the main house. All consanguineal families gather at the main house and the ancestors are revered. 40 2014 Kulpuja is generally done on Jestha Purnima, or full moon day of Jestha. Badis do not have their own festivals, but they observe many fairs: subhaghat mela, ghat mela, rihar mela, etc. Badis do not have any religious institutions or guthis.

3.8.6 Costumes and ornaments