The Dharkar 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...

  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...

, and those in 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...

 have scheduled caste status .

Origin

The word dharkar comes from the Hindi words dhar meaning rope and kar meaning manufacturer, denoting their occupation which was rope-making. They are said to be a sub-group of the Dom

Dom

- People :* Dom people, an ethnic group in the Middle East* Doms, people of indigenous origin found in the Indian state of West Bengal* Domba or Dom, an ethnic group of India...

 community. The Dharkar are found mainly in the villages of Shivpur, Ekawna, Bisheshwarganj and Mihirpura of Bahraich District

Bahraich District

Bahraich District is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Bahraich town is the district headquarters. Bahraich District is a part of Devipatan Division.-History:...

. A small number are also found in the districts of Azamgarh

Azamgarh district

Azamgarh district is one of the three districts of Azamgarh Division in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.-Etymology:The district is named after its headquarters town, Azamgarh. Azam, son of Vikramajit, founded the town in 1665. Vikramajit a descendant of Gautam Rajputs of Mehnagar in pargana...

, Allahabad

Allahabad District

Allahabad district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India, and Allahabad town is the district headquarters. Allahabad district is a part of Allahabad Division.As of 2011 it is the most populous district of Uttar Pradesh ....

, Gonda

Gonda District

Gonda is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh, India. Gonda is the district headquarters, and also the administrative centre for the Devipatan Division....

 and Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur District

Gorakhpur district is a district of Uttar Pradesh state in India. Gorakhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.-History:The district was ceded by the Nawab of Awadh to the British East India Company in 1801. With this cession, Gorakhpur was raised to the status of a district. The...

. The Dharkar speak the Awadhi

Awadhi language

Awadhi is an Indo-Aryan language, part of the Hindi-Urdu continuum. It is spoken chiefly in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, although its speakers are also found in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Nepal. Furthermore, the Fiji Hindi dialect spoken by Indo-Fijians is considered a variant of Awadhi,...

 dialect of Hindi.

Present circumstances

The Dharkar are strictly endogamous community, and are divided into four sub-groups, the Benbansi, Lakharhara, Kharush and Bansphor. These groups are hierarchical in nature, with the Benbansi considering themselves superiors to the other groups. Each of these four sub-groups are further divided into clans, known as kuris. Their main clans are the Aril, Neoriya, Daurihar and Nargarha. Marriages are forbidden within the kuris.

The Dharkar are a landless community, and are involved mainly in the manufacturing of baskets and mats. They also supplement their income by begging. A great number are now employed as agricultural labourers. Each of their settlement contains an informal 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, known as a biradari panchayat. The panchayat acts as instrument of social control, dealing with issues such as divorce and adultery.