The Kesarwani, also known as Kesarvani, Keshri or Kesri, are sub-caste found in India.
They originated in the
Kashmir region
Kashmir () is the northernmost geographical region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term "Kashmir" denoted only the Kashmir Valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. Today, the term encompass ...
and are now found in other parts of
northern India, to which they migrated during the
Mughal era.
''Kesar'' refers to
saffron, which they traded, and ''
Wani
Wani may refer to:
*Vani (custom), a child marriage custom in tribal areas of Pakistan
*Wani (dragon), a Japanese dragon translated as "sea monster", "crocodile", or "shark"
*Wani (scholar), a legendary scholar, sent from Korea to Japan during the ...
'' refers to the Kashmiri caste to which they belong.
History and origin
The Kesarwani were cultivators or traders of
saffron (''kesar'' in
Hindustani
Hindustani may refer to:
* something of, from, or related to Hindustan (another name of India)
* Hindustani language, an Indo-Aryan language, whose two official norms are Hindi and Urdu
* Fiji Hindi, a variety of Eastern Hindi spoken in Fiji, and ...
) and originated from the
Kashmir Valley
The Kashmir Valley, also known as the ''Vale of Kashmir'', is an intermontane valley concentrated in the Kashmir Division of the Indian- union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The valley is bounded on the southwest by the Pir Panjal Range and ...
of India. In the 12th century, many of the Kesarwani migrated to what today comprise the states of
Bihar,
Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh.
It is said that, as per a carved-engraved stone, found from Kashmir and presently available at the Pakistan Museum, that a group of people belonging to Kansal gotra of the Agrawal community from Punjab went to Kashmir in regard to Kesar trade and settled there. Gradually their population increased in the region and after the aforesaid incident, they migrated to Delhi and other parts of northern India. Considering this, Kesarwanis are nothing but Kansal-Gotri Agrawal Vaishy, who became Kesarwani because of their Kesar business in Kashmir.
See also
*
Vaishya
*
Kashmiri Hindus
Kashmiri Hindus are ethnic Kashmiris who practice Hinduism and are native to the Kashmir Valley of India. With respect to their contributions to Indian philosophy, Kashmiri Hindus developed the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism. After their exodus ...
References
Social groups of Uttar Pradesh
Social groups of Jammu and Kashmir
Social groups of Madhya Pradesh
Social groups of Bihar
Indian castes
Kashmiri tribes
Bania communities
Vaishya community
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