The Sorathia are a sub-group of the

Ahir Ahir or Aheer are a community of traditionally non-elite pastoralists in India, most members of which identify as being of the Indian Yadav community because they consider the two terms to be synonymous. The Ahirs are variously described as a ...

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.

Origin

The Sorathiya Ahir is branch of

Yaduvanshi Yadu () is the founder of the Yadu dynasty in Hinduism. He is described to be the eldest son of King Yayati, and his queen, Devayani. Legend According to a narrative found in the Mahabharata, and the Vishnu Purana, Yadu refused to exchange h ...

Ahirs in Gujarat. The community derives its name from the Sorath region of Saurashtra. The population of Sorathiya Subcaste is in majority in comparison of other branches of Gujarati Ahirs. Sorthiya Ahir has a total of 484 surnames, which is more then any other branches of Gujarati Ahirs. According to their traditions, they migrated from

Mathura Mathura () is a city and the administrative headquarters of Mathura district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is located approximately north of Agra, and south-east of Delhi; about from the town of Vrindavan, and from Govardhan. ...

along with God Shri

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...

. They are now found mainly in Porbandar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch and other all District of Saurashtra Prant. The Sorathia speak Kutchhi and

Gujarati Gujarati may refer to: * something of, from, or related to Gujarat, a state of India * Gujarati people, the major ethnic group of Gujarat * Gujarati language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by them * Gujarati languages, the Western Indo-Aryan sub- ...

. European supremacist and other slave-minded historians had earlier wrongly attributed the communities origins to Caucasians. These Yaduvanshis have rich cultural history and deep rooted sense of identity carried over in their unique oral traditions.

Present circumstances

The Sorathia community consist of near about sixty clans. Each of the clans are of equal status and intermarry. Like neighbouring Hindu communities, the community practices clan exogamy. The Sorathia are a community of farmers and landlords; they are involved mainly in transport and heavy construction machinery business. Some of them earn a living as contractors.

References

{{Ahir clans , state=collapsed Ahir Social groups of Gujarat Indian castes

Origin

Present circumstances

See also

References