TheBedia is a caste in India.[1] They believe that they originally lived at Mohdipahar inHazaribagh district and have descended from the union of aVedbansi prince with aMunda girl. A legend has heard that they had their own 'Vedas' and hence it is called Bediya. Their Veda was different from the Vedas of Aryans.
The Bedia who have settled down in West Bengal are also known as the Bede or Bedia. They speak inNagpuri, an Indo-Aryan language, at home, andBengali for inter-group communication. The Bengali andDevanagari scripts are used.[2]
The2011 Census of India for Uttar Pradesh, where they were classified as aScheduled Caste under the nameBeriya, showed their population as 46,775.[3] InJharkhand, they are listed as a Scheduled Tribe.[4]
They have numbers of exogamous clans such as Pecha (owl), Mahua (Madhuca India), Suia (parrot),Kachhua (tortoise), Chidra (squirrel) etc.[4] Their deities are Bad Pahari and Palcharu. They celebrate festivals such asJitiya,Sohrai,Fagun, andSarhul.[4]
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