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The Belwar are a Hindu Sanadhya Brahmin caste found in North India, and mostly in Uttar Pradesh. Sanadhya Brahmins are called Belwars mainly in Sitapur, Lakhimpur, Hardoi, Barabanki, Gonda and Lucknow. They like to be called Bilwar or Bailwar as it is a matter of pride for them.
Origin
The Belwar are Sanadhya Brahmins from Awadh who are small but wealthy community whose chief occupation was trade in cattle and grains.
Present circumstances
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The Belwar are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. They are Hindu, and Mahadev is their clan deity. Their customs are similar to other Awadh Brahmin communities. They are generally vegetarian.
The Belwar are mainly a landowning community, but are now being urbanised. Those in rural Awadh live in multi-caste villages, but occupy distinct quarters. Each of their settlements contains an informal caste council, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as an instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.
References
- India census commissioner (1913). Census of India, 1911. Superintendent government printing, India.
- ^ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part One edited by A Hasan & J C Das pp. 248–251 Manohar Publications