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Caste System In Sri Lanka
The caste systems in Sri Lanka are social stratification systems found among the ethnic groups of the island since ancient times. The models are similar to those found in Continental India, but are less extensive and important for various reasons. Modern times Sri Lanka is often considered to be a casteless society in South Asia. The caste systems of Sri Lanka were historically not tied to the religious establishment but rather a tool to service the ruling elite - a model more reminiscent of feudalism in Europe. At least three major, parallel caste systems exist in Sri Lankan society: Sinhalese people, ''Sinhalese'', Sri Lankan Tamils, ''Sri Lankan Tamil'' and Indian Tamils of Sri Lanka, ''Indian Tamils''''.'' A universal welfare system that focused on providing education for everyone regardless of background has provided people from lower caste groups similar opportunities to enter jobs previously only frequented by those in upper-caste groups, with younger generations mostly reje ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sinhalese People
The Sinhalese people (), also known as the Sinhalese or Sinhala people, are an Indo-Aryan peoples, Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group native to the island of Sri Lanka. They are the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, constituting about 75% of the Sri Lankan population and number more than 15.2 million. The Sinhalese people speak Sinhala language, Sinhala, an insular Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language. Sinhalese people are predominantly Theravada Buddhists, although a significant minority of Sinhalese follow branches of Christianity in Sri Lanka, Christianity and Religion in Sri Lanka, other religions. Since 1815, Sinhalese people were broadly divided into two subgroups: the up-country Sinhalese of the Central province, Sri Lanka, central mountainous regions, and the low-country Sinhalese of the coastal regions. Although both groups speak the same language, they are distinguished as they observe different cultural customs. According to the ''Mahavamsa'', a Pali chronicle ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kammalar (caste)
Kammalar is a Tamil caste group found in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in northeastern Sri Lanka. The Kammalars are involved in crafting. ''Kammalar'' is a generic term that comprises the communities of Kannar (brass-workers), Kollar (blacksmiths), Tatar (goldsmiths), Tatchar (carpenters) and Kartatchar (sculptors). Kammalars are classified and listed as Backward Class by both the central government of India and the State governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala They worship various forms of this deity. Etymology The word Kammalar is derived from the word ''Kam'' meaning "art" or "operation". The Kam ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Drummer
A drummer is a percussionist who creates music using drums. Most contemporary western music ensemble, bands that play Rock music, rock, Pop music, pop, jazz, or Contemporary R&B, R&B music include a drummer for purposes including timekeeping and embellishing the musical timbre. The drummer's equipment includes a drum kit (or "drum set" or "trap set"), which includes various drums, cymbals and an assortment of accessory hardware such as pedals, standing support mechanisms, and drum sticks. Particularly in the traditional music of many countries, drummers use individual drums of various sizes and designs rather than drum kits. Some use only their hands to strike the drums. In larger ensembles, the drummer may be part of a rhythm section with other percussionists playing. These musicians provide the timing and rhythmic foundation which allow the players of melodic instruments, including voices, to coordinate their musical performance. Some famous drummers include: Max Roach, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cantar Caste
Santar (also spelled ''Shandar'' or ''Sandar'', they are also known as ''Shanar'' and ''Shandrar'', and சாண்டார் in Tamil) is a Tamil caste found in Sri Lanka. They are traditionally occupied in Oil-pressing and cultivation. Etymology The Cantars are also known as ''Shanar.'' The term is proposed as an etymologically corruptive derivative of ''shandrar'', the older term for the community. History They were originally tree-climbers and toddy tappers. They claim origin from the Shanars of South India, who settled in Sri Lanka, initially in the Puttalam region, due to social clashes and overpopulation in South India. The Jaffna Kingdom were known for exporting elephants, which were caught in the Vanni region and maintained by the Cantars.{{Cite book, url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yI4cAAAAMAAJ, title=Early Settlements in Jaffna: An Archaeological Survey, last=Ph.D. Ragupathy, first=Ponnampalam, date=1987, publisher=Thillimalar Ragupathy, isbn=, location= ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dewa (people)
Vahumpura also known as Wahumpura or Dewa people, are a Sinhalese caste, who were the second largest caste in Sri Lanka. They were traditionally producers of jaggery, but have now spread throughout the island undertaking many occupations, including agriculture. See also * Caste system in Sri Lanka The caste systems in Sri Lanka are social stratification systems found among the ethnic groups of the island since ancient times. The models are similar to those found in Continental India, but are less extensive and important for various reasons. ... References {{reflist Indo-European peoples Sinhalese castes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jaggery
Jaggery is a List of unrefined sweeteners, traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, North America, Central America, Brazil and Africa. It is a concentrated product of Sugarcane juice, cane juice and often Date (fruit), date or Arecaceae, palm plant sap, sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can vary from golden brown to dark brown in colour. It contains up to 50% sucrose, up to 20% invert sugars, and up to 20% moisture, with the remainder made up of other insoluble matter, such as wood ash, proteins, and bagasse fibres. Jaggery is very similar to muscovado, an important sweetener in Portuguese cuisine, Portuguese, British cuisine, British and French cuisine. Etymology Jaggery comes from Portuguese terms , , borrowed from Malayalam (), which is borrowed from Sanskrit (). It is a wikt:Appendix:Glossary#doublet, doublet of wikt:sugar#English, sugar. Origins and production Jaggery is made of the products o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nalavar
Nalavar () is a Tamil caste found in Sri Lanka. They were traditionally occupied in palm tree climbing and toddy tapping. Etymology According to a folk etymology is the name Nalavar a corrupted form of ''Naluvinavar'' (those who decamped), which they gained after withdrawing from a battle field. Another theory suggest the name is derived from ''Nalua'' meaning to climb, in reference to their traditional occupation. It has also been proposed that the name is derived from ''Naravar'' (from ''Naravu,'' ancient Tamil term for toddy). History According to Yalpana Vaipava Malai were the Nalavars originally called ''Nambis'' who originally Vanniar chieftains and served as bowmen. A former subdivision among them were known as ''Kottai Vayil Nalavar'' i.e. "Nalavars in service of the fort". Under the Dutch Ceylon was the Thesavalamai law codified. This law allowed landlords to have slaves, and the Nalavars were also employed as agriculture labors, and were classified along w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Durava
Durave or Durava or Durawa are a southern coastal Sinhalese caste in Sri Lanka. They are of South Indian Dravidian origin and started speaking Sinhala after reaching the coasts of Sri Lanka around 600 years ago. Current status Many were converted to Catholicism soon after the arrival of Portuguese colonials in 1505 CE. They along with other Southern Sinhalese castes such as Karave and Salagama have played an important role in the historically left political and right parties. They are mostly Theravada Buddhists today and were instrumental in the revival of Buddhism during the British colonial period. The un-Buddhistic practice of caste discrimination introduced into the Sangha by the Siyam Nikaya in the late 18th century has been overcome by patronising the Amarapura Nikaya and the Ramanna Nikayas. Sitinamaluwe Dhammajoti (Durawa) was the last nongovigama monk to receive upasampada before the 1764 conspiracy A conspiracy, also known as a plot, ploy, or scheme, is a secr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toddy Tapping
Palm wine, known by several local names, is an alcoholic beverage created from the sap of various species of palm trees such as the palmyra, date palms, and coconut palms. It is known by various names in different regions and is common in various parts of Africa, the Caribbean, South America, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Micronesia. The word "toddy" traces back to the Proto-Dravidian root "''tāẓ-'' (DED number: 3180)," which means palmyra/toddy palm and gave rise to forms like "tāḍi" or "tāṭi" in Telugu, Gondi, and Kolami-Gadba; "tāri" or "tāḷi" in Kannada and Tulu. The Sanskrit word "tāḍi," which refers to an extract from palm trees, is a loanword from Dravidian. Palm wine production by smallholders and individual farmers may promote conservation as palm trees become a source of regular household income that may economically be worth more than the value of timber sold. Tapping The sap is extracted and collected by a tapper. Typically the sap is co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stonemasonry
Stonemasonry or stonecraft is the creation of buildings, structures, and sculpture using rock (geology), stone as the primary material. Stonemasonry is the craft of shaping and arranging stones, often together with Mortar (masonry), mortar and even the ancient lime mortar, to wall or cover formed structures. The basic tools, methods and skills of the banker mason have existed as a trade for thousands of years. It is one of the oldest activities and professions in human history. Many of the long-lasting, ancient Shelter (building), shelters, temples, monuments, artifact (archaeology), artifacts, fortifications, roads, bridges, and entire city, cities were built of stone. Famous works of stonemasonry include Göbekli Tepe, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Cusco's Incan Wall, Taq-e Bostan, Taqwesan, Easter Island's Moai, statues, Angkor Wat, Borobudur, Tihuanaco, Tenochtitlan, Persepolis, the Parthenon, Stonehenge, the Great Wall of China, the Mesoamerican pyramids, Chart ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Carpentry
Carpentry is a skilled trade and a craft in which the primary work performed is the cutting, shaping and installation of building materials during the construction of buildings, Shipbuilding, ships, timber bridges, concrete formwork, etc. Carpenters traditionally worked with natural wood and did rougher work such as framing, but today many other materials are also used and sometimes the finer trades of cabinetmaking and furniture building are considered carpentry. In the United States, 98.5% of carpenters are male, and it was the fourth most male-dominated occupation in the country in 1999. In 2006 in the United States, there were about 1.5 million carpentry positions. Carpenters are usually the first tradesmen on a job and the last to leave. Carpenters normally framed post-and-beam buildings until the end of the 19th century; now this old-fashioned carpentry is called timber framing. Carpenters learn this trade by being employed through an apprenticeship training—normally ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Coppersmith
A coppersmith, also known as a brazier, is a person who makes artifacts from copper and brass. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The term "redsmith" is used for a tinsmith that uses tinsmithing tools and techniques to make copper items. History Anthropologists believe copper to be the first metal used by humans due to its softness and ease of manipulation. In antiquity, copper's durability and resistance to rust or corrosion proved valuable. Copper's relationship with man is thought to date back over six thousand years. Coppersmith is one of the few trades that have a mention in the Bible. Copper was particularly worked in England, with ores smelted in Wales as early as the 1500s. Copper was found in great quantities in North America, especially Montana, as well as archaic copper mines near Lake Superior, which was recorded by a Jesuit missionary in 1659. Coppersmithing as a trade benefited strongly from the invention of sheet metal rollers. Copper sheet was then availabl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
