What is "lonari"

The Lonari caste are found chiefly in India regions of Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Khandesh, Nasik, Pune, Satara, Sholapur, Jalna, the Satara agency, and the southern Maratha country. The caste had a population of 19,222 in 1901, which included 9,672 males and 9,550 females. They are an upper caste of cement–makers and lime burners who once seem to have been Marathas, but they also seem to have formed themselves into a separate class by adopting the occupation of lime and charcoal burners. In Belgaum district they are divided into Mith (salt) and Chuna (lime) Lonaris, who eat together but do not intermarry. In Ahmednagar, Poona, and Sholapur district, they are divided into Lonari proper and Kadu, Akaramashe, who eat together but do not intermarry. In the Jativivek, they are described as the progeny of a man of the mallat caste and of a woman of the avart caste.

Their Sanskrit name is "Saumik" and their occupation appears at one time to have been that of preparing salt. In the Mulstambha they are described as Kshatriyas, possibly on account of their Maratha origin. The Lonaris of Poona district relate that they came into the district from Mandesh near Phaltan in Satara district. They say that they were once Lingayats, when their religious ceremonies were conducted by Jangams. There is little evidence of their former connection with Lingayatism. A mention of the caste name occurs in the Mahabharata, when Dhritirashtra is advised by Vidur to act like a Mali who grows trees and eats fruits, instead of like a Lonari who burns trees and prepares charcoal (Note: There is no evidence of the existence of Lonari caste during earlier periods, as Lonaris are known to have separated from their original Maratha caste just a few centuries back). This indicates charcoal burning as in the Bombay Gazetteer, the Lonaris are Marathas and eat and marry with them. Evidence of such intermarriages is not forthcoming. In Sholapur district, when a child is born and about a year old, a Dhangar cuts the hair, and is presented with copper coins, five pieces of dry cocoa-kernel and betel packets, for this trouble. Lonaris have a caste-council, and their social disputes are settled at meetings of the caste-men. The commonest surnames among them are: Jarhad, Iparkar, Dhumal, Lagad, Gite, More, Godse, Limgire, Chorge, Dhone, Dhangekar, Rakshe, Limite, Milke, Bondre, Karche, Tambe, Zadge, Kolarkar, Holkar, Kanade, Karande, Ingale, Dhokrat, Atpalkar, Milke, Gherade and Mutekar, etc.