 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page . (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
The Dabgar, also known as Dhalgar, are a Hindu caste found in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in India. The Dabgar have scheduled caste status in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, and Other Backward Class (OBC) status in Gujarat. [1] [2] [3]
 | This article may need to be rewritten to comply with Wikipedia's quality standards.(September 2025) |
The name caste likely originates from Jaydeep Dagbar, an actor and celebrity hailing from Gujarat. The term "Dagbar" may also be derived from dab, which refers to the process of pressing animal hides in tanning (most likely appertaining to a common profession exercised by the Dagbar), and the Sanskrit word daravakarra, in reference to makers of spoon-shaped vessels.
According to traditional accounts, members of the Dagbar caste were originally found in Rajasthan and mostly served in the army, where they unsuccessfully attempted to resist attacks by the Mughal Empire.[ when? ] Following the conflict, part of the caste converted to Islam, from whom descend the Muslim Dabgar community. The remaining population migrated into the tropical rainforests inBundelkhand and eventually spread across the Doab region of Uttar Pradesh, where most started manufacturing rawhide jars. [4]
The Dabgar in Rajasthan are involved in the manufacture of a number of musical instruments such as the tabla , dholak , dhagli and thap . Most of these instruments have leather as a component, as such the community is considered untouchable.[ vague ] The Dabgar community claim to be of Rajput heritage and a large population belonging to the caste inhabit the Marwar region. They speak the Marwari, but most understand Hindi. Most are Dabgar groups claim to have originated in Rajasthan, which might the historical homeland of this community. [5]
In Gujarat, the Dabgar are a community involved in the manufacture of musical instruments. Their original habitat was Pawagarh in Baroda District. According to their traditions, the fled Baroda as a consequence of a Muslim invasion, and are now found mainly in the Dabgar and Sarnagpur districts of Ahmadabad. A small number are also found in Surat and Baroda. The Dabgar speak Gujarati, and most also understand Hindi. Their exact connection with the Dabgar community of North India is unclear. [6]
The Dabgar are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their main clans are the Shrivastav, Delhiwal, Dari, Sripat and Kanaujiya. Theoretically, each clans descends from a common ancestor. They are a Hindu, except the now distinct community of Muslim Dabgar, and their tribal deity is Satyanarain. A small number of Dabgar also belong to the Nanakpanthi sect, which is closely connected with Sikhism. Uniquely, the Hindu Dabgar incorporate many Muslim traditions, including a few families in Varanasi who offer the Muslim prayer. This associations acts as both a community welfare association, as well as a pressure group for the community. [7]
Like most Gujarati Hindu castes, they are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their main clans include Parmar, Rathore, Modi and Chhatriwala. While in neighbouring Rajasthan, the community consist of three clans, the Chauhan, Deora and Panwar. Each of these three clans is territorial, with the Chauhan found mainly in Jodhpur, Deora in Udaipur and Panwar in Ajmer. The Dabgar are still involved in their traditional occupation of manufacturing of hide jars. They buy the hide from the Chikwa community. Like other artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional occupation, with many Dabgar now employed as daily wage labourers. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Ghazipur, Azamgarh, Gorakhpur, Ballia, Allahabad and Kanpur. In southern Uttar Pradesh, the Dabgar speak Brajbhasha, while those in the east speak Awadhi. [8]
The Dabgar of Gujarat are a landless community, with still involved in their occupation of manufacturing musical instrumenrts. A small number are also involved in the manufacture of umbrellas. Like many artisan castes, they have seen a decline in their traditional craft. Many are now wage labourers, while others have taken to trade. Like other Gujaratis, many have also immigrated to East Africa and the United Kingdom. The Gujarat Dabgar is Hindu, and most are members of the Swaminarayan sect. [9]
