Rawal (caste)

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Rawal or Raval is an Indian clan of the Rajput community mainly found in Uttarpradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat. [1] [2] They are found in two religions: Hinduism and Sikhism. The Rawal Rajputs were later divided into sub-clans, one of these came to be known as Guhilas or Sisodias of Mewar and Bappa Rawal is considered to be the founder of the Guhila dynasty. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Rawal is also a clan of a caste known as Rawal Bhand who claim descent from Rawal Rajput fathers with non-Rajput mothers. [6] They used to perform a special dance form called Rammat in the royal court of kings. [7] [8] They were well respected and patronised by the castes like Charans. [9] [10]

Origin

Rawal Rajputs claim to be descendants of the founder of Guhila dynasty, Bappa Rawal of Rajasthan. [11] [12] [13]

Rammat of Rawal Bhands

Rawals are also found in other caste of Indian subcontinent other than the Rajputs who are known as Rawal Bhands and are known for their performance called Rammat, which are devotional in nature dedicated to their patron goddess. It begins with a prayer to the goddess after which the performing arena is marked with a sword. This Rammat tradition is thought to be ‘almost extinct’ in modern times. [10]

Mahendra Bhanawat in the study of folk theatre traditions of Rajasthan, states about the origin of Ramat: [14]

“Rawals of Rajasthan who visit their distinguished clients (Charan Yajamans) for gifts (virats) would impersonate in various disguises (Swangs) and perform various acts of entertainments-called Ramats. I was told on enquiry that the Rawals, in earlier times, would impersonate the goddesses they worshipped during Navaratras and would sing devotional songs (Charjayen) to the accompaniment of mridanga, taal and rawaj etc. With the passage of time, they started playing kheras in front of Charans also and presented different impersonations(swangs). For a Khera performance, a boy would dress up like the goddess and another boy in his female garb would present various Charjas throughout the night laced with songs, dance and drums. These devotional performances came to be known as Ramats.” [14] [15]

Modern occupations

Presently, Rawal Bhands community is mainly engaged in cultivation and in the weaving of coarse cotton clothes and tapes. [16]

Population

According to the 1961 Census, the Rawal Bhand population in Rajasthan was approximately 4,500. [16]

Further reading

  1. Rājasthāna ke Rāvala By Devilal Samar · 1967

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016-03-14). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-107-08031-7.
  2. ↑ Vyāsa, Rājaśekhara (2004). Architectural Glories of Mewar. Raj Book Enterprises. ISBN   978-81-901436-9-1.
  3. ↑ Singh, Sabita (2019-05-27). The Politics of Marriage in India: Gender and Alliance in Rajasthan. Oxford University Press. ISBN   978-0-19-909828-6.
  4. ↑ Puri, B. N.; Das, M. N. (2003-12-01). A Comprehensive History of India: Comprehensive history of medieval India. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. ISBN   978-81-207-2508-9.
  5. ↑ Rana, Bhawan Singh (2014-03-24). Maharana Pratap. Diamond Pocket Books Pvt Ltd. ISBN   978-93-5083-869-3.
  6. ↑ Tod, James; Payne, C. H. (2022-10-27). Tod's Annals of Rajasthan; the Annals of the Mewar. Creative Media Partners, LLC. ISBN   978-1-01-589206-4.
  7. ↑ Mathur, Madan Mohan (2006). Kuchamaṇi Khyal: An Endangered Folk Theatre Style of Rajasthan. Madan Mohan Mathur.
  8. ↑ RajRAS (2018-03-02). Art Architecture & Culture of Rajasthan. RajRAS.
  9. ↑ Kothiyal, Tanuja (2016-03-14). Nomadic Narratives: A History of Mobility and Identity in the Great Indian Desert. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-316-67389-8. Another client caste of the Charans were the Bhands, who sang and danced for the Charans on festive occasions. Their particular form of dance is still popular and called rammat.
  10. 1 2 Mathur, Madan Mohan (2006). Kuchamaṇi Khyal: An Endangered Folk Theatre Style of Rajasthan. Madan Mohan Mathur. Rawals are the caste genealogists of the Charans . They claim to have been converted from the Brahmins in about 1195 A.D.
  11. ↑ Shwetha, George E. (2008). Bappa Rawal. D C Books. ISBN   978-81-264-1921-0.
  12. ↑ Waeerkar, Editor: Anant Pai Author: Rajendra Sanjay Illustrator: Ram (2006). Bappa Rawal. Amar Chitra Katha. ISBN   978-81-7508-316-5.{{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  13. ↑ Hutton, Deborah S.; Brown, Rebecca M. (2016-10-04). Rethinking Place in South Asian and Islamic Art, 1500-Present. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-315-45603-4.
  14. 1 2 Bhanawat, Mahendra (1979). Overview of the folk theatre of Rajasthan. Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
  15. ↑ Sangeet Natak. Sangeet Natak Akademi. 1979. p. 26.
  16. 1 2 Rajasthan, India Superintendent of Census Operations; Mathur, U. B. (1969). Ethnographic Atlas of Rajasthan: With Reference to Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes. Manager of Publications.
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