The Kela 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 ...
community found in the state of
Gujarat & Rajasthan 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 ...
. They are also known as Dhat Maheshwari .
Origin
Kela's are found in the state of Odisha, pre-dominantly in and around a place called Patia near Bhubaneswar. The place opens up to the famous Chandaka jungle, house to varieties of snakes.
The Kela if has come from the word Kala (Means Black in Odia) may have some history back to the Irula tribe.
The Kela are a hunting and gathering community found in the district of
Midnapore
Medinipur or Midnapore (Pron: med̪iːniːpur) is a city known for its history in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the West Medinipur district. It is situated on the banks of the Kangsabati River (variously known as '' ...
. They were traditionally involved in the catching of snakes, toads and birds, a profession considered derogatory by neighbouring communities. The word Kela has been derived from the word kala, which means unclean in
Bengali
Bengali or Bengalee, or Bengalese may refer to:
*something of, from, or related to Bengal, a large region in South Asia
* Bengalis, an ethnic and linguistic group of the region
* Bengali language, the language they speak
** Bengali alphabet, the w ...
. They are also known as Kharia Muslims, as they are said to be converts from the Kharia
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 ...
, and prefer to be known as Kharia.
Present circumstances
The Kela have now entirely given up their traditional occupation, and the majority are now marginal farmers or sharecroppers. A significant minority are also involved in repairing locks, and now suitcases. The community is strictly endogamous, and marry close kin. They live in multi-caste villages, but occupy their distinct quarters, known as paras. The community are
Sunni
Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...
Muslim
Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
s and speak
Bengali language
Bengali ( ), generally known by its endonym Bangla (, ), is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language native to the Bengal region of South Asia. It is the official, national, and most widely spoken language of Bangladesh and the second m ...
.
[Marginal Muslim Communities in India edited by M.K.A Siddiqui pages 424-436]
See also
*
Lodha Muslims The Lodha Muslim are a tribal or Adivasi community found in the state of West Bengal in India. They are a Muslim tribe.
Origin
The exact circumstances of the conversion of the Lodha Muslims to Islam remains shrouded in mystery, but the conversion ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kela (Tribe)
Social groups of West Bengal
Muslim communities of India
Dom in India
Romani in India