Kalingi
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2019) |
Kalingi (also spelt as Kalinga & Kalinji) [citation needed] is a caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh[1] and Odisha. They are found mainly in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Vishakapatnam, and are also found on the borderland between the districts of Ganjam and Visakhapatnam.[1]
They are an endogamous population.[citation needed] These people wear sacred threads (yagnopavita) across the shoulders.[citation needed] The same class of people are known as the Kalinjis in the country north of the Vamsadhara river.[citation needed] There are two groups of Kalingas today, Buragam and Kinthali, distinguished by the sacred threads (yagnopavita) worn across the shoulders. Buragam Kalingas wear the sacred thread while Kintali Kalingas do not. For this reason, Buragam Kalingas consider themselves to be the direct descendants of the former rulers of the region who fought with Ashoka.[2] In the Telugu parts they are called Kalingis and in the Oriya country they are known as Kalinjis.[2] The Kalinjis do not wear the sacred thread. Both Kinthala and Buragam Kalingas are categorized as Other Backward Classes (OBCs) by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.[3] Kinthala widows are permitted to remarry if they have no male heir, but Buragam widows are not.[2] These Kalingis are not found south of Chipurupalle in the Vizianagaram district.[citation needed] These were the original people that gave their name to the region; most of them are now found confined to the south of Ganjam district, but some are found scattered all over the Oriya country along the coast.[4]
References
- ^ a b Naidu, D. Suran (1 January 1991). The Congress Party in Transition: A Study in Srikakulam District of Andhra Pradesh. National Book Organisation. pp. 68, 101, 229. ISBN 9788185135649. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
- ^ a b c Thurston, Edgar (21 June 2013). Castes and Tribes of Southern India. Vol. 3 of 7. K. Rangachari.
- ^ "National Commission for Backward Classes". www.ncbc.nic.in. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ P., Dozier, Edward (1966). Mountain arbiters; the changing life of a Philippine hill people. University of Arizona Press. OCLC 297175.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
