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 The People
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Kutch has
been a significant confluence point for different races and
people. The nomadic pastoralists are certainly the most
interesting and their links can be traced on one side to
Marwar and Mewar (regions of Rajasthan), Saurashtra and, on
the other side, Sindh and beyond to Afghanisthan, Iran and
Central Asia.
The great
Rabari group is spread
over the western plains of India from Kutch to Rajasthan. They
are Hindu cattle-breeders and shepherds, falling into three
endogamous groups - those of Kutch, Rajasthan and Central
Gujarat.
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There are
further sub-divisions according to region like the Garasia,
Kachela, Dhebaria and Wagadia of Kutch. Rabaries worship the
mother goddess, Ramdev Pir, horsemen heroes and the sainted
dead. In Kutch, after the monsoon rains and their year's
wanderings, they celebrate all marriages on one day only, that
of Gokul Ashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna.
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The other main group of pastoralists
consists of two dozen nomadic and semi-nomadic Muslim
groups who trace their roots from Sindh and beyond. The
Jath are the largest
such group. The others are smaller and live in Banni area,
a low-lying, sixteen hundred square kilometers pastureland
close to the salt marshes of the Great Rann of Kutch, and
also in the surrounding areas.
The main clans are the Halipotra,
Raisipotra, Mutwa, Node, Hingorjah, Bhambha, Cher, Junejah,
Kaskalee, Korar, Ladai, Nunai, Pathan, Baluch, Samejah,
Sumra and Tabah.
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The Dhanetah section of the Jath are
also in the Banni. They keep mainly cattle, no goats, and
are settled around nearly fifty water-holes on the Banni. |
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The Jaths are a nomadic community
spread over Kutch. They appear to have started their
migration to this area, from Sindh, some four hundred
years ago. Their main groups are Dhanetah, Fakirani
and Garasia. The Garasia Jaths live mainly in the
Nakhatrana region of Kutch.
There is a sprinkling of
Bharwads also in Kutch, and they have
spilled over from their home region in Kathiawar.
There is a great concentration of
Ahirs in Kutch.
In and around Pacham are the
Sammas. An interesting community is that of
the Sodha Rajputs,
some of whom have been settled in Kutch in the recent
past only, after coming from Pakistan. In other
castled villages tribals like the
Koli mingle with
the normal population mix of Patels, Jadejas, Rajputs,
Bhatias, Kayasths, Lohanas, Gosains, Gadhvis, Kapdis,
Jains, Brahamans, Jogis, Banias, Bairagis, Sanghars,
Bhanushalis, Bhadalas Syeds, Shaikhs, Pathans, Khojas,
Memans, Miyanas, Sammas, Kharvas and Toris. And
intermingling with them are the service groups and
craftsmen. |
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