Hoogar
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Hoogar (or Hugar) is the name given to an endogamous community of Lingayat people living in Karnataka, in southwest India. The traditional profession of the Hoogars was to grow, gather and sell flowers. "Hoogar" means "those who sell flowers" or "a person who makes flower garlands".[1] in the Kannada language.
The 1961 Census of India described the Hoogar as "the traditional Lingayat flower supplier."[2] Lingayatism is a non-Vedic monotheistic religion that rejects the traditional caste system.[3]
According to their traditions, the Hoogar are said to be descendants of Pushpadatta, a human figure that Shiva sent to earth to distribute flowers. The Hugar live in the northern parts of Karnataka and are concentrated in the districts of Dharwad, Belgaum, Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga and Bellary. They are vegetarian, and speak Kannada. They do not eat masur pulse (lentils).[1]
They form a tiny fraction of population of Karnataka, have been abandoning their traditional profession and have taken up modern education. By 1961, "these occupational distinctions and limitations have practically disappeared" among the followers of Lingayatism.[2]
References
- ^ a b Singh, Kumar Suresh (2003). People of India. Vol. Volume 26, Part 2. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 9788185938981.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Census of India. Vol. Volume 11, Part 6, Issue 38. 1961.
{{cite book}}:|volume=has extra text (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Lingayat." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 09 Jul. 2010.