Role of Dom Community in Cremation Rituals: A Socio-Cultural Study of Funeral Grounds in Varanasi

Abstract

This paper explores the socio-cultural role of the Dom community in the cremation rituals at Manikarnika and Harishchandra Ghats of Varanasi, the two most sacred cremation sites in Hindu tradition. The study examines how the Dom’s are historically marginalised and considered ‘untouchable’, and have paradoxically held a central and indispensable role in death rituals, particularly in the handling and burning of corpses, an act believed to be spiritually liberating for the deceased. Drawing on observations, oral narratives, an interview schedule, and historical accounts, the paper highlights the intersection of caste, ritual practices, and religious belief systems. It also investigates the community’s struggle for dignity, cultural identity, and economic survival in the face of deep-rooted social stigmatisation. The research aims to foreground the Doms not merely as ritual service providers but as custodians of a critical spiritual practice, thereby challenging caste hierarchies.