Muslim Nats

Nat

Regions with significant populations
• India • Nepal
Religion
Islam

The Nat are a Muslim community found in North India. ^{[1] [2] [3]} A few are also found in the Terai region of Nepal. ^{[4] [ citation needed ]}

History and origin

The Muslim Nat are a semi-nomadic community, traditionally associated with rope dancing, juggling, fortune telling and begging. ^[5] The Nat of Bihar are said to have immigrated from the Middle East and Central Asia. They are found mainly in the Bihar state districts of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Samastipur and Patna. ^[6] They speak Urdu. ^[7]

Present circumstances

The Muslim Nat are now mainly cattle dealers,^{[ clarification needed ]} while a small number are involved in begging. They are one of the most marganalized Muslim community in Bihar. Almost all the Nat are landless. A small number of Nat have now settled down and are cultivators.

The Nat are strictly endogamous, and generally live in isolation from other Muslim communities in their neighbourhood. Although they are Sunni Muslims, they incorporate many folk beliefs. ^[7]

In Uttar Pradesh, the Nat are said to have come originally from Chittaur in Rajasthan. They are found mainly in the districts of Varanasi, Allahabad, Barabanki and Jaunpur. The Nat speak Urdu and Hindi and converted to Islam during the rule of the Nawabs of Awadh, about two hundred years ago. The Muslim Nat consist of number of sub-groups, the main ones being the Aman, Goleri, Mahawat, Rari, Siarmaroa and Turkata. Many Nat are still involved with fortune telling and live a semi-nomadic lifestyle. Most Nat are now landless agricultural labourers, and are in depressed economic circumstances. The Nat are Sunni Muslims, but incorporate many folk beliefs. ^[8]

In Haryana, they are found mainly in the districts of Faridabad, Gurgaon and Rohtak. They speak Haryanvi, and understand Hindi. Little is known about the exact circumstances that there conversinon to Islam. Historically, the community in Haryana were rope dancers, jugglers and acrobats. The Nat consist of a number of exogamous clans, the main ones being the Dagariya, Sansebar, Baraike, Khoyareke, Paharike, Nangariye, Dhadhasiya, Palike, Jirmichya, Dangiya, Kotiya, Shirkarake, Dilwati, Occhluke, Rashidiya, and Badanke. The Nat are no longer involved in their traditional occupation, and are now largely landless agriculture workers, migrating to different places in search of employment. They are nominally Sunni Muslim, but practice many folk beliefs. ^[9]

References

1. Mishra, N. K. Singh and A. P. (2008). Global Encyclopaedic Enthnography Of Indian Muslim(3 Vols. Set). Global Vision Publishing House. pp. 568–71. ISBN   978-81-8220-297-9.
2. Hasan, Amir; Das, J. C.; Rizvi, Baqr Raza (2004). People of India: The Communities: Gaddi-Muslim Teli. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 1053–??. ISBN   978-81-7304-114-3.
3. Davindera (1997). Socialization and Education of Nomad Children in Delhi State. Regency Publications. ISBN   978-81-86030-44-8.
4. "Nat Muslim" (PDF). Asia Harvest. Retrieved 3 August 2025.
5. "Wayback Machine" (PDF). tiss.ac.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
6. "Muslims by religion, Hindu by tradition, nomads in Buxar excite scholars". hindustantimes.com. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
7. Singh, K. S.; Gopal, Surendra; Jha, Hetukar; India, Anthropological Survey of (2008). Bihar, Including Jharkhand. Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 725–728. ISBN   978-81-7046-303-0.
8. Singh, K. S. (2005). People of India: Volume XLII: Uttar Pradesh (in 3 Parts). Anthropological Survey of India. pp. 1053–6. ISBN   978-81-7304-114-3.
9. People of India Haryana Volume XXIII edited by M.K Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 380 to 385 Manohar