2409:4042:2D1D:F5B6:0:0:600B:310A at 12:47, 7 July 2021

2021-07-07T12:47:47Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{infobox ethnic group
| group = Kalavantin (Gomantak Maratha Samaj)
| image =
| pop =
| popplace = Primary populations in: [[Goa]] and [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
Populations in: [[United Kingdom]], [[United States]], [[Canada]]
| langs = [[Konkani Language|Konkani]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
| rels = [[Hinduism]]
| related =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
}}
Kalavantins who self identify as '''Gomantak Maratha Samaj''' is a [[Konkani]] speaking community found in Indian state of [[Goa]].<ref>{{cite book|last= Gracias|first=Fatima da Silva|title=Kaleidoscope of women in Goa, 1510–1961 |pages=80}}</ref> They are known as Naik Maratha Samaj and Nutan Maratha Samaj in the [[Sindhudurg]] district of Maharashtra and [[Uttara Kannada]] district of Karnataka, respectively.

==Origin==
Gomantak Maratha is a relatively new ameliorative name<ref>"Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti" by B.D.Satoskar</ref> adopted by a community of traditional Hindu temple servants. They were previously known by the following names:<ref>{{cite book|last= Gracias|first=Fatima da Silva|title=Kaleidoscope of women in Goa, 1510-1961 |pages=80}}</ref>
===Kalavant, Kulambini===
*Those who participated in music and singing were known as ''Kalavantini'', literally meaning ''an artiste,'' they enjoyed a high status in the community.
*Those who maintained the temple lamps, ''[[Palanquin]]'', and held ''Chamara'' (''Chavar'' in Konkani) were known as ''Bhavins'', literally a ''pious lady''.

The Kalavant women (sometimes called as ''Naikinn'') as a custom became mistresses of Brahmin men who paid a huge sum of money to her mother.They also practiced [[prostitution]].<ref>{{Cite book
|title=People of India, Vol. 21: Goa|last=|first=|publisher=Anthropological Survey of India|year=1993|isbn=9788171547609|location=|pages=79}}</ref>

===Devli===
Etymologically ''Devli'', the word Devli is derived from the word ''[[Hindu temple|Devul]]'' or ''Dev'' meaning God. So Devlis are those who were dedicated or devoted to the temple or to God. The duties of Devli males (''Jyotkar'') included lighting the temple lamps and ''mashal'' (torch), hold ''Devdanda'', act as temple attendants (''Katkars''), and play the ritual musical instruments like ''Mahavadya'', ''Panchavadya'', ''Ranavadya''.

===Chedvaan, Chede, Bandi, Farjand===
They were not always connected to the temple but with the Brahmin landlords (''Bhatkar''s), at whose residences they performed all types of household work.

===Perni===
Their main occupation was acrobatics. They used to perform ''Jagar'' (a form of acrobatics) as the main source of their livelihood and held a lower status in the community.

==History==
The [[temple prostitution]] system was prevalent in Goa since times immemorial.<ref name=dhume>{{cite book|last=Sinai Dhume|first=Anant Ramkrishna|title=The cultural history of Goa from 10000 B.C.-1352 A.D.|year=1986|publisher=Ramesh Anant S. Dhume|location=the University of Michigan|pages=335 pages (see pages 310–311)}}</ref> The Kalawantin community finds references throughout Goan history.<ref>"A socio-cultural history of Goa from the Bhojas to the Vijayanagara" By Vithal Raghavendra Mitragotri</ref> Hindu widows originally sought shelter in the temples if they did not commit ''[[Sati (practice)|Sati]]'' after the husband's death. These widows would then become the mistresses of the Brahmins. Any resulting illegitimate daughters would also be sold by their mothers to become mistresses of Brahmins, while the illegitimate sons would become temple servants and entertainers.<ref>"Gomantak Prakruti ani Sanskruti" by B.D. Satoskar</ref>
The Portuguese called them "bailadeiras" (dancers) whereas the Dutch and the British called them Devalis (Devali means who comes from temple).

During British colonial rule, many Kalawantin community members moved to the city of [[Bombay]] and other areas of British India. Most of these emigrants followed Hindustani music [[gharana]]s to improve their art and talent. Those who remained in Goa began organizing themselves after the post-1910 Portuguese Republic period. In 1910, ''Rajaram Painginikar'' started Kalawantin Movement from ''Paingini'' Village of Goa. In 1917, ''Maratha Gayan Samaj'' (Maratha Singers Society) was formed in Kakode. At the turn of the twentieth century, the Gomantak Maratha Samaj (G.M.S.) was created in order to ensure devadasi's children the right to get their marriages officially recognized by other Hindus. In 1961, the G.M.S. was formally accepted by the Government of Goa as a [[Reservation in India|Reserved category]]. The G.M.S. brings together the devadasis, the musicians and different ritualists of the temple into one single Dalit caste group.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Fruzzetti|first1=Lina|last2=Perez *|first2=Rosa Maria|title=THE GENDER OF THE NATION: ALLEGORIC FEMININITY AND WOMEN'S STATUS IN BENGAL AND GOA|journal=Etnográfica|year=2002|volume=VI|issue=I|page=55|url=http://ceas.iscte.pt/etnografica/docs/vol_06/N1/Vol_vi_N1_41-58.pdf}}</ref> In 1937, under the leadership of Rajaram Panginikar Goa branch of G.M.S. was formed.<ref>[http://www.goa-world.com/goa/books/briefrev.htm Goa world book review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105185115/http://www.goa-world.com/goa/books/briefrev.htm |date=5 January 2009 }}</ref> The main functions of the G.M.S. are as follows:
*To promote the education of its members.
*To arrange marriages of their children within the community.
*Other community welfare activities for their community.

==See also==
*[[Konkani people]]
*[[Malvani people|Malvani]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ethnic and social groups of Goa and Konkan}}

[[Category:Goan society]]
[[Category:Hinduism in Goa]]
[[Category:Social groups of Goa]]

Gomantak Maratha Samaj - Revision history

2409:4042:2D1D:F5B6:0:0:600B:310A at 12:47, 7 July 2021