Dumal

Dumal, also called as Dumala (also known as Nanda Gaudas in eastern Odisha), is a community found mostly in western Odisha, India.

This caste is categorised as an Other Backward Class according to Reservation system of India.

Origin

They were the Nanda Yaduvanshi Kshetriya of Puri. Their role was to supply milk, curd and ghee to the temple and guard Lord Jagannath in Puri.

One day, a vulture was found sitting on the Neelachakra of the temple. The puja panda (priest) had a dream and came to know that the ghee served was impure, for which Lord Jagannath was dissatisfied and the of this vulture appeared. The puja panda secretly informed the Gajapati Maharaja of this and the King ordered punishment. One official from the court secretly informed the Yaduvanshi Kshetriya about the king's decision to punish them next day. That night the innocent Yaduvanshi Kshetriya who supplied ghee to the temple, left their houses in Puri with their families to save themselves and went towards the west.

For many days the King and his men chased them. After many days of tireless escape, they finally reached a place called Damarugarh (known as Dambargarh) in the Kingdom of Boudh.

Thus, in course of time, they came to be known as Dama Gauda and later as Dumala.

Occupations and contributions

The people of the Dumal caste played an important role in the agricultural sector in the past. They brought effective changes to farming which led to a rise in food surplus of the kingdom of Boudh. Due to the heavy concentration of Dumals in Boudh, the King of Boudh was known as Dedha Lakhya Dumbadhipati or the King of one and half lakh Dumals. At his daughter's marriage, the King of Boudh gave one Dumal family along with four Kulta family to the King of Patna as an invaluable dowry to help Patna Kingdom deal with grain shortages by implementing better farming methods. The Dumal family played a significant role in developing the agricultural production of the Patna Kingdom (erstwhile Balangir, Sonepur, Sambalpur, Raigarh, Bamra).

In the course of time, due to their huge contribution to food security, the Dumals were given vast area of lands for cultivation to meet the food demand of the kingdom. They vastly increased the lands under cultivation by clearing forests and gradually with rising wealth and power the Dumals became the zamindars of villages. The Dumals had high responsible posts in the courts of Boudh, Patna, Sonepur, Redhakhol, Bamanda and Bamur Kingdom.

Culture and festivals

Aswina month is the important month for Dumals with regards to festivals. They worship Sthambeswari or Khambeswari (Maheswari) as their presiding deity on the full moon day in the month of Aswina (September-October). On this auspicious day for the Dumal community they offer puja known as Mahakhala puja with the Maleswari song.

They worship Brahmanarayani, Thakurani, Parameswari in the north-east corner of a dark room.

Many Dumals worship Nisan Baja (semi-circular drum with the sticks). During fairs and festivals they first worship this drum and then perform other acts of worship.

The males perform Badi Khela (Maheswari Badi) in the month of Aswina in front of the Goddess Maheswari. The Badi Khela is played with wooden sticks shaped as weapons (sword, mace etc), which indicates their role as a martial race in the past.

They sacrifice goats and sheep for other deities in the temple of Maheswari, but the goddess Maheswari is propitiated with milk, ghee, curd, fruits, etc.

Further reading

• Russell, R.V. (1916). The Tribes And Castes Of The Central Provinces Of India. Vol. II. pp. 530–535.
• "Social Structure of Western Orissa Under the Chauhans of Sambalpur". Journal of History & Social Sciences. Archived from the original on 2012-12-23. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
• Sociological Bulletin. Indian Sociological Society. 2000.