Balijas, just before the nalagu ceremony, the knees, shoulders, and cheeks of the bride and bridegroom are touched with a pestle, while the names of their septs are called out. On the third day, the same process is repeated, but in the reverse order. A Gazula Balija bride must, when the bottu is tied, be dressed in a white cloth with red stripes, called sanna pappuli. With other sections, a white cloth dyed with turmeric is de rigeur.
Balija, it may be noted, is, in the North Arcot Manual, returned as a division of Dasaris and Idigas. The better classes of Medaras (cane-splitters and mat-makers) are also taking to calling themselves Balijas, and assume the title Chetti. Oddes and Upparas sometimes style themselves Odde Balija and Uppara Balija. They belong to the right-hand section, which is headed by the Desayi, who is a Balija, and so describe themselves as belonging to the Setti or Chetti samayam (section). Some members of the Mila and Vada fishing castes have adopted Oda or Vada (boat) Balija as their caste name.
Ballāla.— Ballala, or Bellala, was returned, at the census, 1901, as the caste name of a number of individuals, indicating their claim to descent from the Hoysal Ballal kings of Mysore. Ballal is a title assumed by Bant families of position. There is a proverb that, when a Bant becomes powerful, he becomes a Ballal.[1]
Ballem (spear). — An exogamous sept of Mala.
Balli (lizard). — An exogamous sept of Balija.
Bālolika.— A synonym of Rajapuri.
Bālu (bear). — A sept of Domb.
Bāna (big pot). — An exogamous sept of Togatas, and a name for Telugu washermen, who are sometimes
- ↑ Manual of the S. Canara district.
