Shunri Explained

Caste Name:Shunri
Population:317,543 (West Bengal, 2001 census)
Populated States:West Bengal
Languages:Bengali
Religions:Hinduism
Kula Devi:Lakshmi
Related:Sundhi

Shunri is a Bengali Hindu caste whose traditional occupation is the distillation and selling of country wine.[1]

Population

In the census of 2001, the Shunris numbered 317,543 in West Bengal, consisting of 1.7% of the total Scheduled Caste population of the state.[2]

Religion

The Shunris are predominantly Vaishnavas. Lakshmi is their titular deity. Thursday being the weekly day of worship of Lakshmi, they used to keep their liquor shops closed. Even today, both the foreign and country liquor shops remain closed on Thursday. On the first day of Magh, they worship Bair Lakshmi with much pomp and grandeur. In the month of Kartik, they worship Kartik. The Shunris keep pigeons as pets, because they believe the flapping of their wings bring good luck to them.

See also

Saha (surname)

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kundu, Santosh Kumar . Bangali Hindu Jati Parichay . An Introduction of Bengali Hindu Castes . Bengali . 2008 . Presidency Library . Kolkata . 978-81-89466-13-8 . 264–265.
  2. Web site: West Bengal - Data Highlights: The Scheduled Castes - Census of India 2001 . Census of India . 1 . 10 December 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071124160657/http://censusindia.gov.in/Tables_Published/SCST/dh_sc_westbengal.pdf . 24 November 2007.