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Tribals
of Rajasthan
Tribals of Rajasthan
Rajasthan according to the 2001 census has a population of 56.5 million.
Rajasthan has a large indigenous populace Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur,
Bharatpur, and Dholpur areas. The Meo and the Banjara are travelling
tradesmen and artisans. The Gadia Lohar is the Lohar meaning ironsmith who
travels on Gadia meaning bullock carts; they generally make and repair
agricultural and household implements.
The Bhils are one of the
oldest peoples in India, inhabit the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh,
Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, and Sirohi and are famous for their skill in
archery. The Grasia and nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region. Sahariyas
are found in the Kota district, and the Rabaris of the Marwar region are
cattle breeders.
The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur are successful traders and are
predominately Jains. While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided
into a large number of groups, some of these groups are Jain, while others
are Hindu. In the north and west, the Jat and Gujar are among the largest
agricultural communities. The Gujars who are Hindus dwell in eastern
Rajasthan. The nomadic Rabari or Raika are divided in two groups the Marus
who breed camels and Chalkias who breed sheep and goats.
The
Muslims form less than 10% of the population and most of them are Sunnis.
There is also a small but affluent community Shiaite Muslims known as Bhoras
in southeastern Rajasthan.
The Rajputs though represent only a
small proportion of the populace are the most influential section of the
people in Rajasthan. They are proud of their martial reputation and of their
ancestry.
Hinduism, the religion of most of the population, is
generally practised through the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu,
and other gods and goddesses. Nathdwara is an important religious centre for
the Vallabhacharya sect of Krishna followers. There are also followers of
the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern Hinduism, as well as other forms
of that religion.
Jainism is also important; it has not been the religion of the rulers of
Rajasthan but has followers among the trading class and the wealthy section
of society. Mahavirji, Ranakpur, Dhulev, and Karera are the chief centres of
Jain pilgrimage.
The Dadupanthi forms another important
religious sect the followers of Dadu (d. 1603), who preached the equality of
all men, strict vegetarianism, total abstinence from intoxicating liquor,
and lifelong celibacy.
Islam, the religion of the State's second
largest religious community, expanded in Rajasthan with the conquest of
Ajmer by Muslim invaders in the late twelfth century. Khwajah Muin-ud-Din
Chishti, the Muslim missionary, had his headquarters at Ajmer, and Muslim
traders, craftsmen, and soldiers settled there. The State's population of
Christians and Sikhs is small.
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