Chasa Caste

Chasa Caste

Chasa caste is the chief cultivating caste inhabiting the state of Orissa. This caste is also known as Alia in Sonepur. In the past, Chasas were mostly enumerated in the regions of Sambalpur and other adjoining states, but majority of them moved to Bengal in the year 1905. It is said that Chasa caste has a loose organisation making it possible for outsiders to be admitted into the caste. This fact is proved by the names of the sub-divisions of this caste. Like for instance, three of the sub-divisions namely Kolta, Khandait and Ud are actually the names of different castes. The word Chasa in general means ‘a cultivator.’

The chief cultivating caste of Orissa, probably for the most part of non- Aryan descent. Chasas are divided into the following sub-castes :-Orhchasa or Mundi-Chasa, Benatiya, Chukuliya, and Sukuliya. The last-named group is a small one found along the sea-coast and mainly engaged in the manufacture of salt. The sections are shown in Appendix I. A man may not marry a woman belonging to his own section, or one who falls within the standard formula for reckoning prohibited degrees ca1¬ Calculated to three generations in the descending line. He may marry two sisters, but may not take to wife an elder sister after being already married to her younger sister. The Chasa caste is an exceedingly numerous one, and is probably made up in great measure of non-Aryan elements. In Orissa the caste system is said to be more loosely organised than in Bengal, and this makes it possible on the one hand for outsiders to be admitted into the CMsa caste, and on the other hand for wealthy OMsas, who give up ploughing with their own hands and assume the respectable title of Mahanti, to raise themselves to membership in the lower classes of Kayasths.

In Chasa community, girls get married before reaching the stage of adolescence. If no suitable match is found then she may be married to a flower or an arrow and when a suitable husband is found she is united with him in the form of widow-marriage. Widow re-marriage and divorce are permitted in Casa community. They bury the dead if unmarried, and burn the dead if married. Chasa caste worships various Hindu deities. Occasionally they also sacrifice animals. Brahmin priests are employed for performing religious ceremonies. They have an enriching culture.

More informative and interesting related different caste are Kumbhakar Caste, Agharia Caste, Mehtar Caste, Chhipa Caste