Family ostricised in Odisha over failing to serve traditional liquor at funeral
A family was socially ostracised in a village in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district over organising a funeral without traditional liquor served.Sangram Soren, a member of the Santhal community, held a funeral for his father, Ram. Sangram performed his father's last rites in what he described a traditional manner, inviting villagers to the customary funeral feast.However, he did not serve Handia, a traditional rice-based liquor considered integral to Santhal rituals. The absence of this liquor during the ceremony drew sharp criticism from villagers.advertisement
The Soren family claims they have since been barred from accessing basic village resources, including sanitation access. They allege that a panchayat-like body decided to isolate the family from the rest of the community.'We performed his [father's] last rites without Handia, and because of this, we were ostracised from Kesapada village,' said Sangram Soren. 'We are not allowed to fetch water from the well or the pond. There are two shops in the village, but we cannot buy anything from them. No one is allowed to talk to us. If anyone does, they have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000," he added.Even urination and defecation near the village were initially prohibited, the family alleged, adding that this particular restriction has now been lifted, but other sanctions remain.According to Sangram, the family approached the police regarding the issue but were not heard.Trending Reel
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