Singikat
The Singikat are a Hindu caste found in the state of Haryana in India. They are known as Gyarah.[1]
Origin
The name Singikat is derived from a combination of two Hindi words, the singi which refers to a conical brass pipe with a wide mouth and kat which means holder. The Singi pipe is used to suck impure blood from wounds. They are a branch a of the Singiwala community of North India. The Haryana Singikat are said to have originated from Kuchwan village in Marwar, and said to have immigrated in the 18th Century. They are now found throughout Haryana, and speak Haryanvi.[2]
Present circumstances
The majority of the Singikat are still involved in the drawing supposedly bad blood. Like many North Indian artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their economic circumstances. As an almost entirely landless community, most are now employed as landless agricultural labourers. A good many have now emigrated to the urban areas of Haryana, where they are employed as daily wage labourers.[3]
The Singikat are Hindu, and their main tribal deities are Gugga Pir and Shitala Mata. Their customs are similar to other Haryana Hindus. They are strictly endogamous, and also practice clan exogamy. Their main clans, known as gotras, are the Lakarya, Saura, Khatabia, Goel, Athwar, Nakphula, Banjari and Jadoonliya.