Features of caste System: The followings are main features of caste system:
(i) Segmental division of society: It means Indian social stratification is largely based on caste. There are various castes having a well-developed lifestyle of their own. The membership of a caste is determined by birth. Thus caste is hereditary in nature.
(ii) Hierarchy: It indicates various castes according to their purity and impurity of occupations, are ranked from higher to lower positions. It is like a ladder where pure caste is ranked on the top and impure is ranked at the bottom. For example the occupation of Brahmins is that of performing rituals and teaching. It is considered to be the purest occupation; hence they are placed at the top of the hierarchy. On the other hand, a sweeper whose occupation is clearning and scavenging, is placed at the bottom of the hi ................. of impure occupation.
(iii) Restriction on food, drink and smoking: Usually different castes do not exchange food and drink, and do not share smoking of hookah among them. For instance, Brahmins do not take food from any other caste. It is a complicated process. For example in Uttar Pradesh, among Kanyakubj Brahmins, there are many sub-divisions. Each sub-division does not take food from other sub-division. There are two types of food; 'pucca' (food prepared in ghee like puri, kachori and pulao) and kuchcha (food prepared in water like rice, pulses, and vegetable curries). Some castes exchange only pucca food among themselves. Invariably, the high caste does not take anything from the low caste. The same principle is applied to smoking.
(iv) Endogamy: It indicates members of the caste have to marry within their own caste only. Inter-caste marriages are prohibited. However, among educated people, particularly in the urban areas, inter-caste marriages are gradually increasing.
(v) Purity and pollution: It is one of the important features of the caste system. Purity and pollution are judged in terms of deeds, occupation, language, dress patterns, as well as food habits. For example liquor consumption, consuming non-vegetarian food, eating left-over food of the high castes, working in occupations like leather craft, lifting dead animals, sweeping and carrying garbage etc. are supposed to be impure. However, in recent times some high caste people are today doing all the above jobs, like working in a shoe-shop, shoe-factory, cutting hair in a beauty parlour etc.
(vi) Occupational association: Each caste has a specific occupation and can not change the occupation. For instance, Brahmins do priesthood and teaching, kayasthas maintain revenue records and writing. Baniyas are engaged in business and Chamars are engaged in leatherwork, etc. With new job opportunities available due to industrialisation and urbanization some people have shifted from their traditional occupation. However, in rural areas traditional occupations are still followed. Such cases are also found in urban areas like a barber has a hair-cutting saloon where he cuts hair in the morning and evening and simultaneously works as a peon in some office.
(vii) Social and religious disabilities and privileges of a few sections: The lower caste are debarred from doing many things like they are not permitted to enter the temple, do not use literary language and can not use gold ornaments or umbrellas etc. However, things have changed considerably, these restrictions are hardly found today.
(viii) Distinction in custom, dress and speech: Each caste has a distinct style of life, i.e., having its own customs, dress patterns and speech. The high caste use pure language (sometimes use literary words), whereas the low caste use colloquial (local) language.
