| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 106,000 [1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
•  India | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi • Khari Boli | |
| Religion | |
| •Hinduism 100% • | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Muslim Dhagi • Kori • Patwa • Sadh • Momin Ansari • Bhuiyar |
The Dhagi are a Hindu caste, found in North India. [2]
The name Dhagi is derived from the Hindi word dhaga, which means thread. The community spin thread and weave cloth. They are one of a number of communities that have traditionally been involved with weaving and spinning, such as the Sadh, Kori and Momin Ansari. [3]
The traditional occupation of the Dhagi was weaving and spinning thread. With growing industrialisation of the Indian economy, the Dhagi have abandoned their traditional occupations. They are now mainly engaged in agriculture. [4]
The community have a fairly strong caste council, which maintains social control over the community. Any member of the community which breaches their cultural norms, can be subject to cash fines, or social ostracism. They are a Hindu community, and follow the general customs of the area in which they reside. A small number of Dhagi have converted to Islam, and now form a distinct community of Muslim Dhagi. The community is concentrated in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, and neighbouring state of Bihar. They speak Awadhi and Bhojpuri. [4]
The Sadh, also referred to as Satnami, are a Hindu community, found mainly in North India, traditionally associated with textile dyeing and calico printing. They are found mainly in Uttar Pradesh, concenterated in Farrukhabad District, with small numbers also found in Saharanpur, Mirzapur. Meerut and Bareilly districts.
The Sahariya are a community found in the Bundelkhand region of North India, which is administered by the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. They are also known as Rawat, Banrawat, Banrakha and Soarain.
The Chero is a caste found in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh in India.
The Beldar are a historically nomadic caste, originally from Northern India and now inhabiting many other parts of that country.
The Sapera are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Barwa Sampheriya in West Bengal, Sapela in Punjab and Sparera in Madhya Pradesh.
The Patharkat are a Hindu caste found in North India. They are also known as Sangtarash.
The Nat are a Hindu caste found in northern India.
The Bharbhunja are an occupational caste found in North India and Maharashtra. They are also known as Kalenra in Maharashtra. A small number are also found in the Terai region of Nepal.
The Kotwar are a community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are sub-group of the Panika caste. The word Kotwar is a corruption of kotwal, which means a keeper of the castle in Hindi. They are said to have acquired the name on account of the fact that they were traditionally village watchmen. The Panika were a caste traditionally associated with weaving, and the change of occupation by the Kotwar led to them becoming a distinct endogamous sub-group of the Panika.
The Bansphor are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Bandhmati are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Banbasi.
The Basor or Bansor are Hindus found in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. They have a scheduled caste status.
The Dabgar is a caste found in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dhalgar and have scheduled caste status in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, while they have Other Backward Class status in Gujarat. In Rajasthan, the community prefer the self-designation as Dhalgar.
The Balahar are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. They are also known as chatriya and have OBC status.
The Bhuiyar or Bhuyiar are a Hindu caste found in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. They have scheduled caste status and are also known as Bhanyar. The traditional occupation of the Bhuiyar caste is weaving but that has declined due to mechanisation.
The Gandhila sometimes pronounced as Gandhil and Gandola, are a Hindu caste found in North India. They have scheduled caste status in Punjab and Haryana.
The Kuta are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dhankuta.
The Kuthaliya Bora are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttarakhand in India. They are also known as Bora Karki.
The Jhamar are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Jhaunwar.
The Hurkiya are a caste found in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India. They have been granted Scheduled Caste status in both these states. In fact, there are two distinct communities that go by the name Hurkiya, those of Uttarakhand, who are Hindu by religion, and those found in western Uttar Pradesh, who are Muslim. Both Hurkiya are of common origin, being a sub-group within the Dom ethnic group, and are one of the many gypsy like grouping found in North India.