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{{more citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox caste
| caste_name = Malakar
| classification =
| family_names = Malakar
| population =
| populated_states = [[Bangladesh]], [[West Bengal]]
| languages = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
| religions = [[Hinduism]]
}}
'''Malakar''' ({{lang-bn|মালাকার}}) is a [[Nepali Hindu]] surname spread throughout [[Nepal]] and [[Bangladesh]] and also in some parts of [[Assam]], [[Jharkhand]] and [[Tripura]]. Malakars are traditionally garlander by trade.

{{tocright}}

== Origin ==
Malakars lived around [[Dhaka]] and other smaller towns of [[Bengal]]. The origin of the word Malakar came from [[Sanskrit]]. It is a [[Sandhi]] of ''mala'' and ''akar'', which means a person who shapes ''mala'', i.e a garlander. They are expert [[Sholapith|shola]] craftsmen. The Malakars are one of the nine artisan class that constituted the Navashākha and for generations they are involved in this craft. The nine trading castes that constitute Navashaka are Kumbhakar, Karmakar, Malakar, Kangsakar, Sankhakar, Swarnakar, Sutradhar, Chitrakar and Tantubaya.

== Occupation ==
Malakars were employed to provide garlands and flowers for the village deities and also for the religious and social functions of the society. The profession of a Malakar required a considerable knowledge of flowers, for some were forbidden to be used in religious services and others could only be exhibited before the shrines of the deities to whom they belonged. But their principal occupation used to be [[Sholapith]] craft, one of the primordial handicrafts of both the Bengals. Sholapith craft of West Bengal was recognized as one of the best example of elegance, exquisite beauty and finest craftsmanship. Like many other traditional crafts, it has its origin in the ritual and religious requirements of old days. In ancient times these artisans held a respectable position in society and used to supply the Daker Saaj for the regional deities on occasions. Sholapith items formed an integral part of the major religious rituals in West Bengal. Fine examples of craftsmanship can be seen during the [[Durga Puja]] celebrations. At marriages their services are indispensable, for they prepare the crowns called [[Topor (headgear)|topor]] worn by the bridal pair. No puja or marriage could be celebrated without the floral decoration for the deities or the topor made by the Malakar. Every community in each village, town and city needed an idol as fine as they could afford, so the craft flourished there.

== Caste and religion/rituals ==

Malakars are mainly Vaishnava by creed, Shaivism and Saktism are also found among Malakars. Malakars who have their ancestral origin in Dhaka have a single gotra, Alamyan. During marriages, the bridal dress must be made up of red silk brought from Murshedabad. The bride is always carried in a palki or [[palanquin]].

The caste of Malakar is not well classified among the modern-day classifications. Traditionally they are Nabasakhas whose family rituals are performed by Kulin Bhramans. Even though in 1991, government of Indian classified many surnames including Malakars into the other backward classes, most of them still belong to the general caste of the modern day classification throughout West Bengal and Bangladesh. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anagrasarkalyan.gov.in/htm/obc_list.html |title=Government of West Bengal: List of Other Backward Classes |publisher=Govt. of West Bengal |date= |access-date=February 13, 2011}}</ref>

== People with the surname ==
* [[Bijoy Malakar]], Indian politician
* [[Bishnu Malakar]] (born 1959), Nepalese boxer
* [[Sanjaya Malakar]] (born 1989), American singer
* [[Shrabonti Malakar]] (born 1987), Indian actress

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{surname}}

[[Category:Bengali-language surnames]]
[[Category:Hindu surnames]]
[[Category:Bengali Hindu surnames]]

Malakar - Revision history

CleanupBot: /* top */robot: remove incorrect protection templates

->CruzRamiss2002: Reverted 3 pending edits by DIG.MUKHERJEE to revision 1034025619 by 182.93.83.55: unexplained changes.