Bhojpuri units of measurement

Bhojpuri Units are the units of measurement that are used in the Bhojpuri region of India and Nepal.

Length

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Table of equivalences
Bhojpuri unit SI (metric) Imperial units Traditional definition
angul (𑂃𑂁𑂏𑂳𑂪) 17 mm 2/3 Inch A finger-breath,[1] 3 Pains, 9 Suts
Chaua (𑂒𑂸𑂄) 67.73 mm 2.67 Inch Four angul
muttha (𑂧𑂳𑂗𑂹𑂘𑂰) 67.73 mm 2.67 Inch Width of a Fist, Used in Shahabad Region instead of Chaua[1]
Bitta (𑂥𑂱𑂞𑂹𑂞𑂰) 203.2 mm 8 inch 12 anguls
Sut (𑂮𑂴𑂞) 17/27 mm 2/27 Inch Thickness of a thread
Pain (𑂣𑂶𑂢) 51/27 mm 6/27 inch 3 Suts
Tassur (𑂞𑂮𑂹𑂮𑂳𑂩) 17 mm 2/3 Inch A finger-breath,[1] 3 Pains, 9 Suts, 1 angul (to measure wood, it's 2 angul)
Gaj (𑂏𑂔; wood measure) 476 mm 56/3 inch 28 anguls (for measuring wood; hath is used instead[1]
Hanth (𑂯𑂰𑂁𑂟) 406 mm 16 Inch 24 angul, 2 Bitta. (Hath can vary from 15 to 20 inches, hence the average 18 inches can be considered as 1 Cubit[1])
deg (𑂙𑂵𑂏) or Gaj 914.4 mm 36 Inch 2 Hath, 4 Bitta
Girah (𑂏𑂱𑂩𑂯) 57.15 mm 9/4 Inch Length of Forefinger, 1/16 Gaj
Laggi (𑂪𑂏𑂹𑂏𑂲) 2743.2 mm 108 inch 3 Gaj (also called Baans or Lattha[2])
Sikandari Gaj (𑂮𑂱𑂍𑂁𑂠𑂩𑂲 𑂏𑂔) 812 mm 32 Inch 48 angul, 2 haath (also called Barka Gaj[3])
rasari (𑂩𑂮𑂩𑂲) 48768 mm 1920 Inch 20 laggi (70 cubit in South-West Shahabad[3])
kos (𑂍𑂷𑂮) 2926 meters 9600 feet 60 rasari (50 in South-West Shahabad[3]);

Area

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Bhojpuri unit SI ('Metric')  Relationship
dhur (𑂡𑂴𑂩) 1 Square Laggi
Kattha (𑂍𑂗𑂹𑂘𑂰) 20 Dhur
Bigaha (𑂥𑂱𑂏𑂯𑂰) 20 Kattha
Pakka Bigaha 1337.8 sq. meter Pakka Bigaha is 14400 sq. feet. Bigaha depends on laggi and hath which varies from 15 to 20 inches. Hence, the normal Bigaha varies.[3]

Weight

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Bhojpuri unit SI ('Metric')  Relationship
ratti 0.12 Gram
Maas 0.97 Gram 8 ratti[4]
Tola 12 Maas
Chhaatank 5 Tola
Ser 16 Chhatank
adhpai 1/8 Ser
pauwa 1/4 Ser
Adhsera 1/2 Ser[5]
Teenpauwa 3/4 Ser
Sawaiya 5/4 Ser
Derhseri 3/2 Ser
Arahiya 1/2 Paseri
Paseri 5 Ser
Dhaara 10 Ser
Man 40 Ser

Proportion

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Proportion is generally expressed by saying so many aana in a Rupiya. 16 aanas make one rupee. Thus, one aana in a rupee equal 1:16.[6]

Bibliography

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  • Grierson, G.A. (1885). Bihar Peasant Life. London: The Bengal Secretariat Press.
  • Tiwari, Arjun (2019). Bhojpuri Hindi Shabkosh (in Hindi) (1st ed.). Varanasi: Vishwavidyalaya Prakashan. ISBN 978-93-87643-11-6.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Grierson 1885, p. 425.
  2. ^ Grierson 1885, p. 425-426.
  3. ^ a b c d Grierson 1885, p. 426.
  4. ^ Grierson 1885, p. 430-431.
  5. ^ Tiwari 2019, p. 15.
  6. ^ Grierson 1885, p. 428.