Dhagi
Encyclopedia
The Dhagi are Hindu
caste
, found in North India
.
word dhaga, which means thread. The community spin thread and weave cloth. They are one of a number of communities that have traditional been involved with weaving and spinning, such as the Sadh
, Kori
and Momin Ansari
.
The community have a fairly strong caste
council, which maintains social control over the community. Any member of the community which breaches their cultural norms, can be subject to cash fines, or social ostracism. They are a Hindu
community, and follows the general customs of the area they reside. A small number of Dhagi, have converted to Islam
, and now form a distinct community of Muslim Dhagi
. The community is concentrated in the Awadh
region of Uttar Pradesh
, and neighbouring state of Bihar
. They speak Awadhi and Bhojpuri.
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 North India
North India
North India, known natively as Uttar Bhārat or Shumālī Hindustān , is a loosely defined region in the northern part of India. The exact meaning of the term varies by usage...
.
History and origin
The name Dhagi is derived from the HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
word dhaga, which means thread. The community spin thread and weave cloth. They are one of a number of communities that have traditional been involved with weaving and spinning, such as the Sadh
Sadh
The Sadh is a community, mainly in North India, traditionally associated with Agriculture, textile dyeing and calico printing. They are located mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana , Rajasthan and other parts of the country.In Uttar...
, Kori
Kori (people)
The Kori are a Hindu caste, found mainly in North India, who are traditional associated with weaving. They are known as Bhuiyar in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Koli in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh.- History :...
and Momin Ansari
Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the...
.
Present circumstances
The traditional occupation of the Dhagi was weaving and spinning thread. With growing industrialisation of the Indian economy, the Dhagi have abandoned their traditional occupations. They are now mainly engaged in agriculture.The community have a fairly strong 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...
council, which maintains social control over the community. Any member of the community which breaches their cultural norms, can be subject to cash fines, or social ostracism. They are a 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...
community, and follows the general customs of the area they reside. A small number of Dhagi, have converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, and now form a distinct community of Muslim Dhagi
Muslim Dhagi
The Muslim Dhagi are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They were also known as the Julahas.-Origin:The Muslim Dhagi are converts from the Hindu Dhagi caste. They get their name from the Hindi term dhaga, which means a thread. The Dhagi were traditionally involved in...
. The community is concentrated in the Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
region of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, and neighbouring state of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. They speak Awadhi and Bhojpuri.
See also
- BhuiyarBhuiyarThe Bhuiyar or Bhuyiar are a Hindu caste found in North India, and those in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi have scheduled caste status. They are also known as Bhanyar Julaha; Kabirpanthi and Kori. The traditional occupation of Bhuiyar Caste is weaving...
(North India Weavers) - Muslim DhagiMuslim DhagiThe Muslim Dhagi are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They were also known as the Julahas.-Origin:The Muslim Dhagi are converts from the Hindu Dhagi caste. They get their name from the Hindi term dhaga, which means a thread. The Dhagi were traditionally involved in...
- SadhSadhThe Sadh is a community, mainly in North India, traditionally associated with Agriculture, textile dyeing and calico printing. They are located mainly in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana , Rajasthan and other parts of the country.In Uttar...
- KoriKori (people)The Kori are a Hindu caste, found mainly in North India, who are traditional associated with weaving. They are known as Bhuiyar in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Koli in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh.- History :...
- Momin AnsariMomin AnsariThe Momin Ansari or Ansari, are a Muslim community, found mainly in West and North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Ansaris are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. The community were once known as al ansar, although the term is now obsolete. In North India, the...