Tāmrakār (Devanagari: ताम्राकार) is a caste of and other metal casters found in Nepal and India. In Nepal, the Tamrakars are found among the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley and other regions of Nepal].they are the mix of Mall thakuri and newars. [ Pages 110-111.]
Names
In India, the various names for the caste include Tamrakar (in
Madhya Pradesh), Tambatkar, Tamera,
Thathera, Thathara, Kasar,
Kasera, Kansara (in
Gujarat),
Kansabanik (
West Bengal), Otari, Twasta Kasar and Tambat (
Maharashtra), Tamta (Gharwal & kumaon). Tamta of Bihar is a well known Dalit family. In
Goa, they claim
Brahmin status and call themselves
Twashta Kasar.
In northern India, they also identify themselves as "Haihaivanshi Tamrakar Samaj", claiming
Kshatriya descent from Sahasrabahu Arjuna and
Haihayas.
They are included in the (Other Backward Class) and scheduled caste category by the Government of Maharashtra and Government of uttrakhand respectively.
Geography
In Nepal, Tamrakars are spread all over the Kathmandu Valley, but are mostly concentrated in the heart of Patan,
Kathmandu,
Bhaktapur,
Achham and
Kailali.
[Gutschow, Niels and Michaels, Axel (2008) Growing up: Hindu and Buddhist initiation rituals among Newar children in Bhaktapur, Nepal. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag. , 9783447057523. Pages 23, 33. Retrieved 27 March 2012.]
Tamtas are now found in the United states as well, where some have married into the US-born Indian population.
Traditional occupation
Tamrakars are traditional
who make household utensils of copper and brass according to the division of labour practiced from ancient times. Jewelry and ritual objects made of silver are other products. They are also known for making traditional musical instruments like the
ponga and the
payntah, long horns made of copper.
Many Tamrakars of Kathmandu participated in the traditional Tibet trade, and used to operate shops in Lhasa in Tibet, Ladakh in India and other trade centers on the Silk Road.
Culture
The Tamrakars of Maru in Nepal have the task of playing the
payntāh (long horn) during the
Samyak festival, the greatest Newar Buddhist celebration which is held once every 12 years in Kathmandu and in which each Urāy caste has a duty.
[ Page 47.]
During the Yenya festival (also known as Indra Jatra) held in Kathmandu, a Tamrakar family of Maru has the responsibility of bringing out the procession of the goddess Dagin (दागिं) (alternative name: Dagim).[van den Hoek, A. W. (2004) Caturmāsa: Celebrations of death in Kathmandu, Nepal. CNWS Publications. , 9789057890987. Page 53. Retrieved 27 March 2012.] Similarly, a Tamrakar dancer from Maru plays the part of Daitya in sacred dances.[Gellner, David N. and Quigley, Declan (1995) Contested hierarchies: A collaborative ethnography of caste among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Clarendon Press. , 9780198279600. Retrieved 28 March 2012.]
Society
Tamrakars (mostly from Patan) have formed a society, "Tamrakar Samaj", consisting of 650+ members.
Tamrakar Samaj organizes various social events like Bratabandha, Gupha Rakhne etc. as well as works actively in promotion of Tamrakar.
History in Achhami Tamrakar
In 1565 B.S Bharu malla #Mahendra malla son went to 24 state in nepal Than he was lived at jumla place and He occupied the kingdom of Jumla . his son bhiya malla was born than his gemeration was rule in jumla state Shaki malla and Ashaki malla rule in state.But
His son did not like this place and went to Achham district. He fell in love with a low caste girl. After the king of Achham found out, he brought down the tribe of Devau and kept Tamata. All societies called Tamata and her surname became Tamata.
Devau's son Ratan Motena went and stayed in that village.
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