People

Utkala Brahmins

The Utkala Brahmins are native to Odisha and have been known to be the historical caretakers of the holy Jagannath Temple in Puri . .

Utkala Brahmins

The Utkala Brahmins are native to Odisha and have been known to be the historical caretakers of the holy Jagannath Temple in Puri for centuries. The Utkala Brahmins are one of the five Pancha Gouda Brahmin communities that originally resided to the north of the Vindhyas.

Jyotish

The caste comprises people who practised astrology originally. Sources state that these people were part of ...

Jyotish

The caste comprises people who practised astrology originally. Sources state that these people were part of the Brahmin caste. They hailed from Shakadweepa or Sakaldweep and therefore were called Sakaldweepiya or Shakadweep brahmans. According to Hindu mythology, the Shakadweep island is a landmass that lies to the west of the Ural Mountains. In several parts of Odisha, these people still practice Vedic rituals and serve as temple worshipers.

Karanas

the Karanas are considered to be the second prominent caste in Odisha. They were traditionally office-record keepers at ...

Karanas

Karanas are considered to be the second prominent caste in Odisha. They were traditionally office-record keepers at the royal courts of Odisha during the British era. They also held Karanam posts in some parts of Andhra Pradesh, where they spoke Odia.

Khandayats

Khandait were originally a landed militia caste from Odisha, who served as feudal chiefs ....

Khandayats

Khandait were originally a landed militia caste from Odisha, who served as feudal chiefs, military generals, zamindars, large landholders and agriculturalists. They are the largest in terms of number in Odisha, whose early mentions as feudal chiefs and military personnel were found during the rule of the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

Chasa

Native to Odisha, the community derives its name from the Odia word ‘Chasa’ itself, which means ...

Chasa

Native to Odisha, the community derives its name from the Odia word ‘Chasa’ itself, which means farming. They were traditionally cultivators, who are now engaged in different fields. They are the third-largest caste in the state in terms of number.

Gopal

Gopal also called ‘Gauda’ is a synonym of the Ahir (Yadav) caste hailing from Odisha State ...

Gopal

Gopal also called ‘Gauda’ is a synonym of the Ahir (Yadav) caste hailing from Odisha State in East India. Traditionally, they are engaged in dairy farming, cattle-herding, cultivation, and palanquin bearing. According to the census of India, numerically they are the second largest population in Odisha and comprise more than 16% of the population of the state.

Kansabanik

Kansabanik is a Hindu caste found in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam ...

Kansabanik

Kansabanik is a Hindu caste found in West Bengal, Odisha and Assam. They are traditionally braziers and coppersmiths by profession and are one of the fourteen castes belonging to the 'Nabasakh' group in Bengal.

Paikas

The word ‘Paika’ is derived from the Odia word ‘Padatika’, meaning footsoldier. As the name ...

Paikas

The word ‘Paika’ is derived from the Odia word ‘Padatika’, meaning footsoldier. As the name suggests, the Paikas comprised a group mainly of soldiers. In the past, they were recruited from various other Hindu castes like Khandayat, Chasa, Gopal etc. Khandayat were the majority in the Paika group. Later after the Caste-based consensus introduced by Britishers, they were known as a caste.

Kamar

The Kamar caste or ‘Kamara’ is an Indian caste native to Odisha. They are a sub-caste of ...

Kamar

The Kamar caste or ‘Kamara’ is an Indian caste native to Odisha. They are a sub-caste of the Karmakar caste that hails from Bengal. Traditionally, they were blacksmiths by profession, commonly making agricultural equipment like sickles, axes, spades, crowbars etc.