Kabirpanthi Julaha
Encyclopedia
The Kabirpanthi Julaha are Hindu
caste
found in the states of Haryana
and Punjab
in India
. They are distinct from the Muslim Julaha
of North India
.
means a weaver. Over time a number of caste
s such as the Chamar
, Dhanuk
and Kori took to weaving, and now form an endogamous
community. This is still seen by the fact thair are still two distinct groups of Julaha, the Chamar Julahas, who are also known as Ravidasi
, and the Dhanuk Julaha, who are followers of the saint Kabir
. They are thus known as Kabirpanthi
, which means a follower of Kabir
, a figure associated with weaving. The Julaha are found throughout Haryana
and speak the Haryanvi.
, like neighbouring North India
n Hindu
communities. Their clans, known as gotra
s include the Chauhan, Bhatti, Sahrawat, Kataria, Dahiya, Punia, Morwal, Khangwal, Malik, Saroha and Swain.
The Julaha have seen a decline in their occupation. Many are now petty cultivators and rearing cattle. A larger number are agricultural labourers. The community have now been granted Scheduled Caste status.
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 states of Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and Punjab
Punjab (India)
Punjab ) is a state in the northwest of the Republic of India, forming part of the larger Punjab region. The state is bordered by the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the east, Haryana to the south and southeast and Rajasthan to the southwest as well as the Pakistani province of Punjab to the...
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 distinct from the Muslim Julaha
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...
of 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...
.
Origin
The word julaha in Hindi and UrduUrdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
means a weaver. Over time a number of 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...
s such as the Chamar
Chamar
Chamar |tanner]]"; from the Sanskrit Charmakara) is a prominent occupational caste in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Chamar is a Dalit sub-caste mainly found in the northern states, such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi and in Nepal at least north to the Himalayas...
, Dhanuk
Dhanuk
The Dhanuk are an ethnic group found in Bangladesh, India and Nepal. In India, the Dhanuk, who are also known as Dharhi and are found in the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status. In Nepal, they are settled in the Terai districts of Saptari,...
and Kori took to weaving, and now form an endogamous
Endogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
community. This is still seen by the fact thair are still two distinct groups of Julaha, the Chamar Julahas, who are also known as Ravidasi
Ravidassia (caste)
Ravidassia is a tradition based on the teachings of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji, who is considered the Satguru. Ravidassi is a tradition in itself and not a part of Sikhism, but the teachings of Shri Guru Ravidass Ji are a part of the Sikh religion holy book Guru Granth Sahib.In 14th century India,...
, and the Dhanuk Julaha, who are followers of the saint Kabir
Kabir
Kabīr was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement...
. They are thus known as Kabirpanthi
Kabirpanthi
The Kabir Panth "Path of Kabir") is a Philosophy and religious community ofIndia encompassing a wide spectrum of beliefs, traditions and practices based on the teachings of Shri Sadguru Satyapurush Kabir Bhagwan. It's adherents are of Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh ancestry...
, which means a follower of Kabir
Kabir
Kabīr was a mystic poet and saint of India, whose writings have greatly influenced the Bhakti movement...
, a figure associated with weaving. The Julaha are found throughout Haryana
Haryana
Haryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
and speak the Haryanvi.
Present Circumstances
The Julaha practice clan exogamyExogamy
Exogamy is a social arrangement where marriage is allowed only outside of a social group. The social groups define the scope and extent of exogamy, and the rules and enforcement mechanisms that ensure its continuity. In social studies, exogamy is viewed as a combination of two related aspects:...
, like neighbouring 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...
n 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...
communities. Their clans, known as gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
s include the Chauhan, Bhatti, Sahrawat, Kataria, Dahiya, Punia, Morwal, Khangwal, Malik, Saroha and Swain.
The Julaha have seen a decline in their occupation. Many are now petty cultivators and rearing cattle. A larger number are agricultural labourers. The community have now been granted Scheduled Caste status.