Caste remains one of the most significant social institutions in contemporary India despite constitutional guarantees of equality and decades of social reform. While modernization, urbanization, education, and economic development have weakened some traditional practices, caste continues to shape ritual status, economic opportunities, and political participation in different ways across rural and urban areas. In ritual life, caste still influences social interactions, religious practices, and cultural traditions. Many communities continue to observe rules regarding marriage, kinship, and participation in religious ceremonies based on caste identity. Endogamy, or marriage within one's own caste, remains a common practice, helping preserve caste boundaries across generations. Certain temples, festivals, and religious rituals continue to reflect caste-based roles and hierarchies, although legal protections and social movements have challenged discriminatory practices such as untouchability. In many villages, caste