Sirkiband
Encyclopedia
The Sirkiband are a Hindu
caste
found in the states of Haryana
and Punjab
in India
. They have scheduled caste status in Haryana
. A small number in Punjab
are now Sikh
.
groupings, such as the Nat, Madari, Bazigar, Deha, Bhope and Singikat
. These groups are further divided into clans called gotra
s, which are exogamous
. Their main gotra
s include the Athwal, Kilala, Chanal, Kurania, and Sarsar. The Sikriband speak Haryanvi, but most also understand Hindi.
In Punjab
, the Sikriband are found mainly in settlements along the Sutlej
and Beas
rivers. They claim to be of Rathore
Rajput
origin. The Sikriband claim descent from Jaimal, a Rajput
prince, who on being defeated by the Mughal
s fled to the jungle. His descendents then took up the occupation of manufacturing straw mats. They are now found mainly in the towns of Jagraon
, Moga
, Fazilka
, Barnala
, Abohar
and Jalandhar
, and speak Punjabi
.
n artisan
caste
s, they have seen a decline in their economic cicumstances. As an almost entirely landless community, most are now employed as landless agricultural labourers. A good many have now emigrated to the urban areas of Haryana
, where they are employed as daily wage labourers.
The Sirkibands are Hindu
, and their main tribal deities are Gugga Pir and Shitala Mata. Their customs are similar to other Haryana
Hindu
s.
In Punjab
, the community are strictly endogamous
, and practice clan exogamy. Their clans are known as gotra
s, the main ones being the Jhanaodia, Lakhewale, Labana, Chauhan, Rane and Rathore. A small number of the Punjab
Sirkiband are now Sikh
. Most Sirkiband are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing straw mats. A greater number are now daily wage labourers. A few have been given land my the government, but their holdings are extremely small.
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 have scheduled caste status in 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...
. A small number in 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...
are now Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
.
Origin
The community get their name from the Hindi sikri, meaning straw and band meaning those who tie. They are a community that was traditionally involved in the manufacture of articles made of straw and grass. The Sikriband consist of a number of endogamousEndogamy
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...
groupings, such as the Nat, Madari, Bazigar, Deha, Bhope and Singikat
Singikat
The Singikat are a Hindu caste found in the state of Haryana in India. They are known as Gyarah.- Origin :The name Singikat is derived from a combination of two Hindi words, the singi which refers to a conical brass pipe with a wide mouth and kat which means holder. The Singi pipe is used to suck...
. These groups are further divided into clans called 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, which are exogamous
Exogamy
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:...
. Their main 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 Athwal, Kilala, Chanal, Kurania, and Sarsar. The Sikriband speak Haryanvi, but most also understand Hindi.
In 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...
, the Sikriband are found mainly in settlements along the Sutlej
Sutlej
The Sutlej River is the longest of the five rivers that flow through the historic crossroad region of Punjab in northern India and Pakistan. It is located north of the Vindhya Range, south of the Hindu Kush segment of the Himalayas, and east of the Central Sulaiman Range in Pakistan.The Sutlej...
and Beas
Beas
Beas may refer to:* Beas, Punjab, a town in Punjab, India* Beas River, a river in the northwestern region of India...
rivers. They claim to be of Rathore
Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
origin. The Sikriband claim descent from Jaimal, a Rajput
Rajput
A Rajput is a member of one of the patrilineal clans of western, central, northern India and in some parts of Pakistan. Rajputs are descendants of one of the major ruling warrior classes in the Indian subcontinent, particularly North India...
prince, who on being defeated by the Mughal
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
s fled to the jungle. His descendents then took up the occupation of manufacturing straw mats. They are now found mainly in the towns of Jagraon
Jagraon
Jagraon is a city and a municipal council in the Ludhiana district in the Indian state of Punjab. Jagraon is more than three centuries old. It has been thought by some that the city's original name was Jagar aon, meaning A place of great flooding, although this flooding has since ceased...
, Moga
Moga
Moga may refer to one of the following locations:* Moga district, in Punjab, India** Moga, Punjab, a city and municipality in the district* Moga, slang word for the concept of the "modern girl" in 20th-century Japan...
, Fazilka
Fazilka
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab, India and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.- History...
, Barnala
Barnala
Barnala is an Indian city in the Punjab state of India which serves as the head quarters of the Barnala district. It is situated in the heart of the state. Barnala is well known for textile market in the area.-History and famous people:...
, Abohar
Abohar
Abohar is a city and a municipal committee in Fazilka district in the state of Punjab, India,) located on the Ganganagar–Delhi railway route, about north of Ganganagar and about south of Fazilka. This city is also known as the "California of Punjab" for its rich soil, good irrigation sources,...
and Jalandhar
Jalandhar
Jalandhar is a city in Jalandhar District in the state of Punjab, India. It is located 144 km northwest of the state capital, Chandigarh...
, and speak Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
.
Present Circumstances
The majority of the Sirkiband are still involved with the manufacture of straw items. Like many North IndiaNorth 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 artisan
Artisan
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...
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, they have seen a decline in their economic cicumstances. As an almost entirely landless community, most are now employed as landless agricultural labourers. A good many have now emigrated to the urban areas 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...
, where they are employed as daily wage labourers.
The Sirkibands 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 their main tribal deities are Gugga Pir and Shitala Mata. Their customs are similar to other 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...
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...
s.
In 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...
, the community are strictly 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...
, and practice clan exogamy. Their clans are 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, the main ones being the Jhanaodia, Lakhewale, Labana, Chauhan, Rane and Rathore. A small number of the 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...
Sirkiband are now Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
. Most Sirkiband are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing straw mats. A greater number are now daily wage labourers. A few have been given land my the government, but their holdings are extremely small.