Muslim Bansphor
Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
•India | |
Languages | |
Urdu • Awadhi • Khari Boli | |
Religion | |
Islam 100% | |
Related ethnic groups | |
Bansphor • Dom |
The Muslim Bansphor are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are Muslim converts from the Hindu Bansphor caste.[1]
Present circumstances
The Bansphor practice strict community endogamy, and like other neighbouring Muslim groups, have a preference of marrying close kin. They practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. Although the Bansphor live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their own distinct quarters, and there is little interaction with neighbouring[Muslim groups such as the Ranghar, Shaikh and Ansari. Each of their settlement contains an informal caste council, known as a panchayat. The panchayat is headed by a chaudhary, a position which is heredity. In addition, there is an overarching panchayat of between three and four villages, which headed by a chaudhary. The panchayat resolves any intra-community dispute, as well as acting an instrument of social control. They Bansphor are Sunni Muslims, but incorporate many folk beliefs.[2]