Rathwa
Encyclopedia
The Rathwa are a Hindu
caste
found in the state of Gujarat in India
. They are also known as Rathwa Kolis.
in the middle ages, and now found in the talukas of Chhota Udaipur, Jabugam and Nasvadi
in Baroda District. They speak their own dialect of Gujarati
, known as Rathwi. The community are said to sub-group of the Koli
community.
community. The community follow their own folk religion, which has now been heavily influenced by the Hindu
religion. Their customs are similar to other tribal communities of the region such as the Patanwadia
.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are also known as Rathwa Kolis.
History and origin
The Rathwa derive their name from the word rathbistar, which means an inhabitant of a forest or hilly region. They are said to have immigrated from Madhya PradeshMadhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
in the middle ages, and now found in the talukas of Chhota Udaipur, Jabugam and Nasvadi
Nasvadi
Nasvadi is name of a town, a village as well as Taluka in Vadodara District of Gujarat, India.-Princely State:Before independence, during British India, Nasvadi was a Princely State of India, ruled by Hindu rulers of Solanki clan of Rajputs. The princely state of Nasvadi was spread over an area...
in Baroda District. They speak their own dialect of Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
, known as Rathwi. The community are said to sub-group of the Koli
KOLI
KOLI is a radio station serving Wichita Falls, Texas and Vicinity with a country music format. It operates on FM frequency 94.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. It is the radio flagship station for the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team....
community.
Present circumstances
The community is endogamous, and consist of a number of exogamous clans, the main ones being the Hamania, Thebaria, Mahania, Kothari Baka and Fadia. They are mostly small and medium sized farmers. Many Rathwa are landless agriculture labourers, working on the lands of the PatidarPatidar
The Patidar are a Hindu ethnic group found primarily in the state of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in India.Patidars are also known as Patel, a common surname with in the community.D. F...
community. The community follow their own folk religion, which has now been heavily influenced by the Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religion. Their customs are similar to other tribal communities of the region such as the Patanwadia
Patanwadia
The Patanwadia are Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. They are also known as Thakor, Thakarda, Dharala and Bariya.-History and origin:...
.