Balai

For other uses, see Balai (disambiguation).

The Balai, or Balahi are a Hindu caste found in the state of Rajasthan in India.

Origin

A small number of Balai are also found in the neighbouring areas of Rajasthan.

The Balai are strictly endogamous community and practice the principle of clan exogamy. These clans are referred to as gotras. Their main gotras include the Bhagirath and Soosa, which is also a Mina gotra. The Balahar are a landless community; the majority are agricultural labourers. They were once a community of weavers, but few are now involved in weaving. They are Hindu and have customs similar to other Hindu communities in western Uttar Pradesh.

Balai are also known as Chobdar. The word Chobdar means a stick holder from the Persian words "choob", meaning stick, and "dar" meaning holder. According to their own traditions, the Chobdar are by origin Rajput. After the defeat of Prithvi Raj Chauhan at the hands of Mohammad Ghouri, some members of Prithvi Raj’s army to save themselves took to the manufacturing of leaf cups and plates. As such they evolved into a community distinct from the Rajputs. The Chobdar are found mainly in north eastern Rajasthan, in the districts of Jaipur, Tonk, Bharatpur, Dholpur, and Kota. They speak Braj Bhasha, although most Chobdar speak and understand Hindi.

The Balai are now mainly farmers, although a few still practice their traditional craft of manufacturing plates and cups from leaves. Their customs are similar to neighboring Hindu communities such as the Jats. They live in multi-caste villages, although they are residentially segregated, occupying their own distinct quarters.

Balai are mainly found in Madhya Pradesh. "They are also under comes in the rajputanas and belongs to them, the balai caste are mostly present in rajashtan and malwa region of madhyapradesh."

The main origin of Balai is from vaanar raj bali and sugriv; they have a lot of power in their hands and all rajputanas born with their hand and brain power to serve the peoples.

See also

• Mina