Kotwar
Encyclopedia
The Kotwar are a tribal community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh
in India
. They are sub-group of the Panika
caste
. The word Kotwar is a corruption of the word kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were traditionally village watchmen. The Panika
were a caste
traditionally associated with weaving, and the change of occupation by the Kotwar led to them becoming a distinct endogamous sub-group of the Panika
.
The Kotwar are one many tribal communities that have now been incorporated into the Hindu
caste
system. They are now found mainly in the districts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur
. Their habitat is hilly undulating terrain, and extremely forested. They speak Hindi
and have scheduled caste status. They are now a community of small and medium sized farmers. The Kotwar are Hindu
, and have a number of tribal deities like Dulha Deo, Maharani Devi and Seetla Devi
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...
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 sub-group of the Panika
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Panka. The Kotwar sub-group of the Panika have now separated from the parent community.-Origin:...
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...
. The word Kotwar is a corruption of the word kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were traditionally village watchmen. The Panika
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Panka. The Kotwar sub-group of the Panika have now separated from the parent community.-Origin:...
were a 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...
traditionally associated with weaving, and the change of occupation by the Kotwar led to them becoming a distinct endogamous sub-group of the Panika
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Panka. The Kotwar sub-group of the Panika have now separated from the parent community.-Origin:...
.
The Kotwar are one many tribal communities that have now been incorporated into 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...
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...
system. They are now found mainly in the districts of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur
Mirzapur District
Mirzapur district is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. The district is bounded on the north by Sant Ravidas Nagar and Varanasi districts, on the east by Chandauli district, on the south by Sonbhadra district and on the norhwest by Allahabad district. The district...
. Their habitat is hilly undulating terrain, and extremely forested. They speak Hindi
Hindi
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...
and have scheduled caste status. They are now a community of small and medium sized farmers. The Kotwar are 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...
, and have a number of tribal deities like Dulha Deo, Maharani Devi and Seetla Devi