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Ceáš­áš­i
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Ceáš­áš­i

Indian castes
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History

Ceáš­áš­i, group of castes widespread in southern India, roughly corresponding to the Banias, a similar group of merchant castes in the north. They specialize primarily in the mercantile trades, as bankers, moneylenders, pawnbrokers, shopkeepers, and merchants. They employ a special trade jargon, which contains more or less secret names for figures. Among certain Ceáš­áš­i castes, mass weddings were held at intervals of 10 or 15 years, apparently for reasons of economy. Such a marriage season would last for many months.