Mirasan

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This article is an extract from

THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. By H.H. RISLEY, INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE, OFFICIER D'ACADÉMIE FRANÇAISE. Ethnographic Glossary. CALCUTTA: Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. .

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Mirasan

These women occupy in Bengal the same position as the Domni do in Hindustan. They are generally poor Muhammadan widows, who sing in Zananas to the accompaniment of a drum and cymbals, and often dress in character, but never dance. They are said to be respectable in their lives, and are in great request among the higher ranks of native society.

In Eastern Bengal the husbands and male relatives of these women are never met with. In different parts of India, Mirasi is used as a synonym for Dom, and it is probable that these Muhammadan women are representatives of one of the sweeper, or helot, races converted to Islam.