 While Mhalsa is from the high-caste Lingayat merchant (Vani) community, Banai is described as a Dhangar (shepherd caste), representing the "outside" and associates Khandoba with non-elite herding castes like Dhangars, Gavli and Kuruba (Gowda) who live in the forest.Some traditions consider Banai as a Gavli (cowherd caste) or Koli (fisherman caste).In Karnataka, she is called Kurbattyavva and is a Kuruba.