In the traditional four-fold Hindu caste system the Sonar generally place themselves under the category of Vaisya (3rd highest class of traders and merchants) and are accepted by other castes as such. But in some states, as in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh, they classify themselves as Kshatriya.
Being Hindu, beef is excluded from the mainly non-vegetarian diet. In rural Bihar, eggs and chicken are also excluded but they eat fish. Some vegetarians among the Sonar, mainly those of Orissa and Haryana, do not eat onions and garlic. Their diet consists of wheat, rice, maize, millet, a variety of lentils and vegetable, along with seasonal fruit and dairy products. Only men smoke and drink alcohol. They believe that drinking liquor is beneficial in neutralizing the poisonous, acidic fumes inhaled while making ornaments. However, in Madhya Pradesh alcohol is socially prohibited.
This community encourages literacy for both boys and girls and many go on to complete tertiary education. They are also favourably inclined to modern medicine, along with indigenous cures. They practice family planning methods including sterilization, except in Jammu & Kashmir. Generally, the Sonar are better money-managers, saving and investing wisely.
Adult marriages are arranged by negotiation among family members within the Sonar community only. The common symbols of marriage include sindoor (vermilion), bindi (dot on forehead), gold bangles, black-bead and gold necklace (mangalsutra), toe and finger rings. Dowry is paid by the bride’s family in cash and goods. Most Sonar are monogamous but divorce is permitted but rare. Widows, widowers and divorcees are permitted to remarry. Junior levirate and junior sororate are permissible and at times preferred.
Nuclear families are most common among the Sonar, though joint families also exist. Parental property is divided among all the sons equally and the eldest son succeeds as the head of the family. The daughters don’t get receive a share. The status of women is secondary to that of men though they participate actively in ritual, religious and social activities. Sometimes they help their men by cleaning the ornaments. The folksongs sung by the women to the accompaniment of the dholak (barrel-shaped drum) are their oral tradition. They also dance on occasions of birth and marriage.
The Sonar are an endogamous community who very often observe endogamy at the subgroup level as well. They have different number of subgroups in the different regions they inhabit and often they are territorial in origin. There are also a number of exogamous clans among the Sonar.
There are several community associations for the Sonar community at a local, regional and national level. These regulate social control, settle disputes and initiate welfare activities.
What Are Their Beliefs?
The Sonar are mostly Hindu (95%) though there are some Sikh, Muslim and Jain Sonar. The Hindu Sonar worship Shiva, Vishnu, Rama, Krishna (8th incarnation of Vishnu), Durga, Kali, Ganesh, and Lakshmi (goddess of wealth, wife of Vishnu.)
They also have family, clan and regional deities like Jwaladevi (Flame goddess), Mansadevi (Wish-fulfilling goddess), Vaishnodevi, Ambadevi (form of Durga), Gurgaonwali Mata, Jagannatha (lord of the world), Mangala and Patheswari. The Sonars have special reverence for a saint known as Sant Narhari Sonar.
The Sonar celebrate all Hindu festivals like Dussehra, Diwali, Holi, Janamashtami, Navratri, Ramnavmi, Navratri and Rathyatra. The dead are cremated, except small children whose bodies are either buried or disposed of in flowing water. The ashes of the dead are preferably immersed in the Ganges River at Haridwar; a thirteen days’ death pollution is observed. A Brahmin priest performs all sacred rites. In Uttarakhand, Dangaria (shaman) and fortune-tellers are also consulted for ailments and demon possession.
SABHAR:
peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles
jagran.com/news/world-indian-made-youngest-doctor-in-britain-16401274.htmlI
bollywoodshaadis.com/articles/things-you-will-relate-to-if-you-are-getting-married-to-a-marwari-6507, By Ojasvee 
yourstory.com/2017/07/anjali-sarogi-indian-woman-comrades-marathon/7/18/2017
hindi.kenfolios.com/zomato-founder-deepinder-goyal/
