Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 2.djvu/64

 THE BANRAS.

HE tribe of Banra is the leading one amongst the Newars, who were the original possessors of the valley of Nipal until subjugated by the Goorkhas under Prithee Narain about a century ago. The Newars, whose religion is Buddhist, select their priests from this sect; the Banras are not, however, prohibited from following other professions, since only a small number of this large and flourishing community can find admittance into the priesthood. They are skilful handicraftsmen. The greater part of them are to be found pursuing such trades as smiths, masons, carpenters, and tailors; they reside chiefly in the great towns of the Nipal valley, such as Katmandu and the ancient Newar capitals, Bhatgaon and Patun. Being a well-to-do class, with no very severe restrictions as to diet, their style of living is generous; they can indulge in spirituous liquors, smoke tobacco, and eat the flesh of buffaloes, sheep, and goats. The Banras are the only tribe in Nipal that do not keep the "choorkee," or tuft of hair, on the crown of the head; and they, in common with other Newar tribes, are not permitted to enlist into the Nipalese Army. Intermarriage with other tribes is not permissible; but one characteristic difference between Hindoos and Newars worthy of notice is, that the widows of the latter, unless they prefer burning themselves with their husbands, can re-marry. The Banras, like most of the Newar tribes, burn their dead. Once or twice a year, or oftener, if the wealthier classes of Newars feel charitably inclined, a festival called the Banra jatra is held either in Katmandu or the neighbouring city of Patun, on which occasion all the Banras are collected, and presents of grain, rice, &c., are made to them only by those Newars from whose hands water can be given without ceremonial defilement. Sometimes a rich Newar may be disposed to give a special jatra on his own account. He then gives notice to the Banras that, on a certain day, all of the tribe who wish to partake of his bounty are to assemble at his house, and when the doors are opened, the Banra who succeeds in entering first gets a larger share of the charity than the rest. (MS. Documents.)