CARAN

Hindu caste of hereditary genealogists, bards, and storytellers located in Gujarat state in western India. They claim origin from the Rajput caste of Rajasthan and may be of mixed Brahman (priestly) and Rajput extraction. Many of their customs are similar to those of their northern Indian counterparts, the Bhats; both groups had a reputation of preferring death to breaking a promise. The Caran compose their ballad poetry, which treats of warriors and kings, in a special western Rajasthan dialect, called Dingal, that is not used for any other purpose.