Malasar (pronunciation) (हिंदी: मालासर) is a large village located in Bikaner District which is in the north-west of the state of Rajasthan, India. This village is the Panchayat headquarters of three nearby villages. There are a total of 450 houses in the village. This village is popular for its unique geographical location, beautiful sand dunes and sandy paths located in the heart of the Thar Desert.
It is located 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Bikaner, 340 kilometres (211 mi) from Jaipur,
278 kilometres (173 mi) from Jodhpur, and
401 kilometres (249 mi) from New Delhi.
The village is administrated by a sarpanch (head of the village panchayat) who is elected every five years. In 2011 the population of the village was 3,500, with 450 households.
Etymology
Malasar is made up of two words "Mala" and "Sar" where "Mala" comes from Malaram ji Godara, son of a popular Jat ruler Pandu Godara. "Sar" stands for a place in local language.
The word "Mala" is derived from Sanskrit language where "Mal" means "wrestler" and "Sar" means a place hence the alternative meaning of Malasar is "Village of wrestlers".It is generally believed in the local context that traditional wrestlers had two skills to display, first wrestling and second lifting a heavy stone (called a Mala in local language) above their height, a type of weight lifting.
History
Before the arrival of Rathores, Godara Jats were the rulers in Jangladesh. Godara Jats handed over the rule of Jangladesh to Rao Bika on various terms. At that time Godara Jats were ruling about 700 villages in Jangladesh. Pandu Godara was the Patriarch King of Godaras; his residence was in Shekhsar. Important towns of their region were: Pundrasar, Gusainsar Bada, Shekhsar, Malasar, Gharsisar, Garibdesar, Rungayasar, Kalu etc. People of this clan were known as great and ambitious warriors.
The climate in Malasar is characterised by significant variations in temperature. In the summer season it is very hot when the temperatures lie in the range of 28–50 °C (82–122 °F). In the winter, it is fairly cold with temperatures lying in the range of −4–23.2 °C (24.8–73.8 °F). Annual rainfall is in the range of 260–440 millimetres (10–17 in). The highest ever temperature recorded is 49.5 °C (121.1 °F) on 19 May 2016 and lowest ever recorded is −4.0 °C (24.8 °F) on 26 January 1964.
Climate data for Malasar, Bikaner (1981–2010, extremes 1901–2012)
Popular Lok Devta Guru Shri Jasnath Ji Maharaj attained enlightenment in the nearby village of Katariasar. He founded the Jasnathi Sect and gave 36 rules to its followers. A main Peeth was established in Katariasar and 5 Sub-Peeths were established at other places. Malasar is one of the five Sub-Peeths. A popular temple was built in Malasar Bari. Every year a large number of devotees visit the temple. Guru Jasnath Ji Maharaj is the most influential man for the entire village today.
Gorakhnath Dhora
Doongalo
Doongalo (स्थानीय: दूणगाळों ) is an attractive place two kilometers north of the village.
According to local language the word Doongalo is derived from two words Doon and Galo where Doon means double or two times and Galo means sand dunes, hence it means double dune or huge dune, as it comes in the middle of the major tracks leading to agricultural lands of Malasar Village and historically, it was a harder slope to pass for camel carts or camel riders, hence it came to be known as double dune by local people, however when one goes there it appears very huge too, hence it got the honour of being called Doongalo.
Churma is a sweet dish prepared in an instant. Hot cooked roti is crushed by hand and ample amount of Ghee is poured into it and sugar or jaggery is added for sweetness. Churma is ready to eat.
It is a common tradition to eat churma almost every time while eating in the village, it is considered the best way to consume Ghee to keep the body healthy and strong and one does not get bored of eating it daily. It is a habitual sweet dish, it is also easy to make, keeping all these reasons in mind, it is also a suitable dish to eat daily.
Bajri go khichdo
Made from a mixture of ground millet and ghee with some other ingredients including sugar
Bajri gi roti
Siro
Dal Ka Halwa
Agriculture
Agriculture is the main source of income of the village. More than 80 percent of the population here is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture. In the traditional method of agriculture, crops are cultivated by camels pulling wooden or semi-wooden ploughs and the cultivation period is in July with plowing and harvesting in December–January. At present tractors and other equipment are widely used in farming. The main source of irrigation is rain water. At present tube-wells are becoming a popular source of irrigation. Due to availability of irrigation water throughout the year, many additional crops have also started being produced like cumin, Peanut, wheat, Mustard, isabgol and gram.
Guar
Guar is the main crop of the village and it generates a major part of the total agricultural income. It is the most suitable crop for village soil and requires less water than any other crop. In the village guar is used for selling in the market, boiling and feeding the cattle. After collecting and packing the guar seeds, the remaining dried stems of guar are used as cattle fodder, called Gwartaddi and kept in large stores for the cattle. Guar green leaves (Gwarfalli) can be used like spinach, and the pods are prepared like salad or vegetables
Bajri
Moth
Demographics
1. Population
The 2011 Census of India recorded the population of Malasar as 3500, of which 1798 were male and 1702 were female. A total of 400 families resided in the village .
2. Literacy Rate
79% and more increase in present scenario
3. Occupation
Agriculture, Self Employed and Job including Government Job
4. Caste Wise / Class Wise
Schedule caste 11%, schedule tribe 8%,
OBC 70% , General 11%
^Qanungo, Kalika Ranjan; Kānūnago, Kālikā Rañjana (1960). Studies in Rajasthan History. S. Chand. p. 60. whereas the Jats lived in the Jangal-desh (a portion of ancient Kuru-Jangal region), which covers Bikanir and some portion of the Jodhpur State.
^Hooja, Rima (2006). A History of Rajasthan. Rupa & Company. p. 6. ISBN978-81-291-0890-6. In a different context, a part of the desert land now part of the administrative division of Bikaner was apparently known as 'Jangal' (also 'Jangal-desh).