Society and Religion Of The Mohyals

As far as a Mohyal family is concerned the birth of a boy in a Mohyal family is an occasion for rejoicing. After birth the child is given a name when namakaran festival is celebrated. When a boy attains the age of twelve he undergoes the ceremony of yajnopavit (wearing the sacred thread). This thread is renewed every six months on the Nauratra Ashtami. The mundan (shaving of the head) ceremony is another event in a Mohyal`s life which generally takes place on his 5th birthday.

On festive days primarily a sweet dish known as `mittemn da halwa` is prepared and distributed only among people of the community to celebrate the occasion.

Mohyals generally confine their matrimonial alliances to their own 7 groups. Earlier they used to take girls in marriage from other Brahmin communities but they never gave their daughters to them in marriage. However, of late, many leading Mohyals have married girls from and given their daughters in marriage to not only other Brahmins but other castes as well. Mohyals may marry in the mother`s gotra but never in the father`s.

Mohyals reprobate three things: the taking of charity, the handling of grocer`s scales and living a life of indolence. They use titles in reminiscence of their close association with rulers, like Mehta, Raizada, Dewan, Bhai, Bakshi and Choudhari.