The Satvara are a
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
caste
Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...
found in the state of
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
.
History
There are several traditions as to the origin of the Satvara community. According to one such tradition, they are descended from a Rajput who took a Kurmi wife and then left North India for Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra, who escaped the wrath of the
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
god Parshurama by abandoning the Kshatriya custom of being warriors and took to farming. They are found mainly in north
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
, Saurashtra (region), Saurashtra and Kutch. They speak Gujarati language, Gujarati and Kutchi language, Kutchi.
Present circumstances
The Sathwara are found mainly in the districts of Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar district, and Junagadh. They have two main divisions, based on dietary habits, the vegetarian and non-vegetarian, and each section is endogamous. The North Gujarat Sathwara are further divided into territorial divisions, the Dandariya group found in Sabarkantha, Aravalli and Patanwadia found in Mehsana District. They are further divided into exogamous clans, the main ones being the Hadiyal, Parmar, Sonagra, Nakum, Kacchatiya, Kanzariya
Chopda, Khandar, Kadiya, Bedia, Mori and Dabhi. They are constituents of the ther-tasidi group of
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
castes, that interdine.
The Sathwara are a number of quasi-Rajput groups found in
Gujarat
Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...
, like the Khant (caste), Khant and, have similar customs. Traditionally, they were farmers, but are now engaged in diverse occupations such as masonry. However, the majority of the community remain farmers. They are
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
, and are followers of Mahadev.
[People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1273-1277]
See also
* Khant (caste), Khantsathwara also known as "fulmali" live in rajsthan.
References
{{reflist
Social groups of Gujarat
Indian castes
Tribal communities of Gujarat