 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| South Asia | ~55–60 million (c. 2009/10) |
| Languages | |
| Hindi, Sindhi, Rajasthani, Haryanvi, Awadhi, Gujarati, Marathi, Nagpuri, Odia, Punjabi, Urdu,Nepali | |
| Religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
Kumhar or Kumbhar is a caste or community in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Kumhars have historically been associated with the art of pottery. [1]
The Kumhars derive their name from the Sanskrit word Kumbhakar meaning earthen-pot maker. [2] Dravidian languages conform to the same meaning of the term Kumbhakar. The term Bhande, used to designate the Kumhar caste, also means pot. The potters of Amritsar are called Kulal or Kalal, the term used in Yajurveda to denote the potter class. [1]
A section of Hindu Kumhars honorifically call themselves Prajapati after Vedic Prajapati, the Lord, who created the universe. [1]
According to a legend prevalent among Kumhars
Once Brahma divided sugarcane among his sons and each of them ate his share, but the Kumhara who was greatly absorbed in his work, forgot to eat. The piece which he had kept near his clay lump struck root and soon grew into a sugarcane plant. A few days later, when Brahma asked his sons for sugarcane, none of them could give it to him, excepting the Kumhara who offered a full plant. Brahma was pleased by the devotion of the potter to his work and awarded him the title Prajapati. [1]
There is an opinion that this is because of their traditional creative skills of pottery, they are regarded as Prajapati. [3]
The potters are classified into Hindu and Muslim cultural groups. [1] Among Hindus, inclusion of artisan castes, such as potters, in the Shudra varna is indisputable. They are further divided into two groups-clean caste and unclean caste. [4]
Among the Kumhars are groups such as the Gujrati Kumhar, Kurali ke Kumhar, Lad, Haral and Telangi. They all, bear these names after different cultural linguistic zones or caste groups but are termed as one caste cluster. [5]
In Punjab, Kumhars (also called Prajapat) belongs to Hinduism & Sikhism. In ancient times pottery being their occupation. But many hundred years ago, they shifted to Farming occupation. Most of them have their own land. They are considered as a decent caste in Punjab. [6] They follow endogamy with clan exogamy. [2]
The number of Kumhars speaking Bengali language here is more than other Kumhars. The sub-castes of Kumhars found here are- Khuntakati Kumhars and Prajapati Kumhars. Khuntkati Kumhars are the original inhabitants of this place and their popular surnames are - Pal, Bhagat, Kumbhar, Bera, Pradhan and Chaudhary. [7]
The Kumhars of Chamba are expert in making pitchers, Surahis, vessels, grain jars, toys for entertainment and earthen lamps. Some of these pots bear paintings and designs also. [3]
Kumhars are found in Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, Sholapur and Pune. Their language is Marathi. They use Devnagari script for communication. [8] There are Kumbhars who do not belong to Maratha clan lives in Maharashtra and have occupation of making idols and pots. [1] [8]
Hathretie and Chakretie (or Challakad) Kumhars are found in Madhya Pradesh. Hathretie Kumhars are called so because they traditionally moved the "chak" (potter's wheel) by hands ("hath"). Gola is a common surname among Kumhars in Madhya Pradesh. [9] [ clarification needed ] They are listed among Other Backward Classes in the state. [10]
In Rajasthan, Kumhars (also known as Prajapat) have six sub-groups namely Mathera, Kheteri, Marwara, Timria and Mawalia. In the social hierarchy of Rajasthan, they are placed in the middle of the higher castes and the Harijans. They follow endogamy with clan exogamy. [2] The National Commission for Backward Classes has kept both the Kumhar and Kumawat castes separately but together in the same row in the Central List of Other Backward Classes of the state of Rajasthan. [11]
In Bengal Kumhars are one among the ceremonially pure castes. In Odisha they are two types (Odia Kumbhar and Jhadua Kumbhar) who provide vessels for the rice distribution to Jagannath temple. [12] They are belongs to Other Backward Classes in the state of Odisha. [13]
The Kannuaja Kumhars are considered to be a decent caste in both Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Although they sometimes use the term Pandit as their Surname. The Magahiya Kumhars are treated little inferior to the Kanaujias and the Turkaha (Gadhere). [14] They belong to other backward classes.
Kumhars are listed among the Other Backward Classes of Gujarat, where they are listed with the following communities: Prajapati (Gujjar Prajapati, Varia Prajapati, Sorthia Prajapati), Sorathiya Prajapati. [15]
The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Kumhar as a subgroup within the broader social group of Madheshi Other Caste. [16] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 62,399 people (0.2% of the population of Nepal) were Kumhar. The frequency of Kumhars by province was as follows:
The frequency of Kumhars was higher than national average (0.2%) in the following districts: [17]
Dhobi known in some places as Dhoba, Rajaka, a scheduled caste in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are washing, ironing, and agricultural labour.
The Other Backward Class (OBC) is a collective term used by the Government of India to classify communities that are "educationally or socially backward". It is one of several official classifications of the population of India, along with general castes, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The OBCs were found to comprise 52% of the country's population by the Mandal Commission report of 1980 and were determined to be 41% in 2006 when the National Sample Survey Organisation took place. There is substantial debate over the exact number of OBCs in India; it is generally estimated to be sizable, but many believe that it is higher than the figures quoted by either the Mandal Commission or the National Sample Survey.
Lohar is considered to be a caste among Hindus and a clan among Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, and in Nepal. They form traditionally artisanal castes. Writers of the Raj period often used the term Lohar as a synonym for blacksmith, although there are other traditional smiting communities, such as the Ramgarhia and Sikligar, and numerous non-traditional communities, including the Kayastha, Rajput and Brahmin.
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Teli is a caste traditionally occupied in the oil pressing and trade in India, Nepal and Pakistan. Members may be either Hindu or Muslim; Muslim Teli are called Roshandaar or Teli Malik.
A kumbha is a type of pottery in India. Traditionally, it is made by Kumbhars, also known as Prajapatis.
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The Gadaria or Gadariya is a herding caste that was traditionally involved professionally in livestock breeding, especially sheep. They are primarily found in Uttar Pradesh and in some parts of Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. In Gujarat, they are called Bharwad.
Nai, also known as Sain is a generic term for occupational castes of barbers. The name is said to be derived from the Sanskrit word nāpita (नापित). In modern times Nai in northern India refer to themselves as "Sain" instead of Nai.
The Jogi is a Hindu community found in North India. Jogi surname is associated with the ancient migrants of the southern Indian states Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala and Gujarat.
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The Vishwakarma community are a social group of India, sometimes described as a caste. They claim themselves to be Brahmin or of high-status in the caste hierarchy, although these claims are not generally accepted outside the community. The community comprises five subgroups—carpenters, blacksmiths, bronze smiths, goldsmiths and stonemasons— claim to be descendants of Vishvakarma, the builder and architect of heavenly realm, a Hindu deity.
Vatalia or Vataliya Prajapati are an endogamous Hindu group and a sub-caste of Prajapati found only in Gujarat.
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Kulala is a Hindu caste who traditionally pursued pottery trade and farming as professions and are commonly found in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and southern and western parts of Tamil Nadu. They belong to the Other Backward Class group.
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