My Other Sources Conclusion Work Cited Intercaste Relations a . Purity-Pollution Intercaste relations are also affected by the purity and pollution dogma. High-caste groups shun and keep their distance from the lower castes. Dalits are suppose to be so polluting that even the cast of their shadows would stain the higher-castes. In some cases, they even have to wear bells to warn others of their presence.
Distance is maintained in all situations, even in the case of preparation of food.
A Brahmin who accepts water or a meal from the hands of a Sweeper or any Dalit will immediately be polluted and could face social rejection from his fellow caste members. Certain exceptions hold. For example, only members of the Waterbearer caste who are employed to supply water from wells to homes can offer water by hand to all castes without polluting them. Only completely raw uncooked food like rice grains, uncooked vegetables, mangoes, or bananas can be accepted by anyone from anybody. Given that even the issue of dining has so many regulations, marriage and consummation issues are under even heavier scrutiny.