Toshali Sands

Religion And Caste

Among the states of India, Orissa has the highest concentration of the Hindus. According to a population statistics, the Hindus form 92 per cent of the total population; the Muslims, Christians and Buddhists forming 1.5, 1.7 and .04 per cent respectively. Orissa is a land of religious tolerance and the people following to different religions and faiths live harmoniously, often within the same village. Usually there reside a large number of castes in a Hindu village from among the Brahmins, Karans, Khandayats or Kshatriyas and the functional castes like cultivators, carpenters, weavers, blacksmiths, braziers, goldsmiths, milkmen, oilmen, potters, barbers, washermen etc.