| 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 Halalkhor are a Dalit Muslim community, found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India. The Halalkhor are also known as Shaikhra or Shahani in Bihar and Muslim Bhangi and in Uttar Pradesh.
The Kamangars are a Muslim community found in Northern India and Pakistan.
The Muslim Teli are members of the Teli caste who follow Sunni Islam. They are found in India and Pakistan.
The Qassar are a South Asian Muslim caste whose traditional occupation is washing clothes. They are considered to be Muslim converts from Hinduism, where the Dhobi castes are launderers. They are found in North India,East India as well as middle East India and Pakistan. The community is also known as Charhoa and Gazar in Pakistan and Qassar in India. They also use "Hawari" as a surname.
The Lal Begi, or Lalbegi, are a Chuhra caste found in the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in India, as well as in Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur in Pakistan. The Muslim branch of the Lal Begi are known as Hasnati and the Hindu branch as Kayastha (sometime) or Balmiki which are different from Kayastha community who also uses it as there surname.
The Bhatiara are a Pashtun community found in North India.
The Mansoori Al Mansoori are the Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and north India.
The Muslim Dhagi are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They were also known as the Julahas.
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 sub-caste found in North India. The majority of this subcaste in Nepal, Kushbadiya, speak a poorly known language, and exhibit enough distinct cultural values to be a separate ethnic group, nevertheless Pattharkat in Kapilbastu District are exceptional as they considered themselves to be Dalit rather than adivasi. In India, they are also known as Sangtarash.
The Bandhmati are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.
The Kingharia are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Panwariya.
The Bharbhunja are a Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh in India. In Uttar Pradesh, the community are also known as Bharbhunja Shaikh.
The Bharbhunja/ Bhurji/ Bhojwal/ bhujwa are a largely Hindu 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 Atishbaz are a Muslim community found in the state Uttar Pradesh in India. They also refer to themselves as Atishbaz Shaikh or sometimes just Shaikh, which is also a common surname. The Uttar Pradesh Atishbaz have been granted Other Backward Class status. A small number are also found in the city of Karachi, Sindh Pakistan.
The Muslim Bansphor are a Muslim community found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are Muslim converts from the Hindu Bansphor caste.
The Bandhmati are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Banbasi.
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 Kuta are a Hindu caste found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. They are also known as Dhankuta.
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.