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Birthplace of Marwari Clans
Birthplace of Marwari Clans

Marwaris are the people from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India. Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Though Marwari as a genre originated from a place name, the Marwari people have spread to many regions of India, and even to neighboring countries, as they expanded their business and trade networks. In many locales, Marwari immigrants over time (and, usually involving many generations) have blended in with the regional cultures. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic

The Marwar region includes the central and western parts of Rajasthan. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area The word Marwar is considered to be derived from Sanskrit word Maruwat, the meaning of maru being 'desert'. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical

The development of the fresco paintings on Havelis is linked with the history of the Marwaris. Haveli ( Urdu: حویلی, Hindi: हवेली) is the term used for a private residence in Pakistan and North India.

Contents

The community

Marwar is the largest region of Rajasthan, located in central & western areas. The residents of Marwar region have been called Marwaris, irrespective of the caste. The term 'Marwari' has a a geographical connotation. So there can be a Marwari baniya and a Marwari rajput and so on.

Many people from Marwari vaishya/baniya/business caste went to distant states for trading and became successful & famous. Since the vaishya/baniya caste is present everywhere in India, for people in other states, the distinguishing factor of a "Marwari baniya" person was "Marwari". Hence, with human tendency to speak short, the term "Marwari" caught on across India's other states to refer to a businessman from Marwar. This usage is imprecise. Other castes from Rajasthan did not migrate to such extent, so awareness about them in other states is low.

Marwaris comprise the people who originally belonged to Rajasthan, particularly, areas in and around Jodhpur, Pali and Nagaur; and certain other adjoining areas. Rājasthān ( Devanāgarī: राजस्थान raːdʒəst̪ʰaːn is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area Jodhpur (जोधपुर is the second largest City in the Indian State of Rajasthan. Pali ( ISO 15919 / ALA-LC: Pāḷi is a Middle Indo-Aryan language or Prakrit of India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Nagaur is a city in the state of Rajasthan in India.

Marwaris have close association with tradition & culture of Thar and Hinduism. They are soft-spoken, mild-mannered and peaceful. They love to live together in a Joint Family. They like variety of dishes in meals. They are mostly vegetarian.

"Rajasthani" and "Marwari"

Rajasthani is a word derived from the name of a state of independent India, Rajasthan. Any resident of Rajasthan is called Rajasthani (from a regional point of view), whereas Marwari is a word derived from the name of the Marwar region (which after independence became a part of Rajasthan state). Geography In 1901 the region (Jodhpur state had an area of 90554 km² (34963 square miles So, residents of the Marwar region are basically Marwaris. Hence, all Marwaris are Rajasthanis but all Rajasthanis are not Marwaris.

Though Marwari as a genre originated from a place name, in more recent times the term Marwari is often used for the trading class from the Marwar region.

Religion and Caste

Marwaris are predominantly Hindu, and there are also a large number of Jains. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. However, regardless of their affiliation, whether Hindu or Jain, Marwaris mingle with each other socially. In some cases they share matrimonial relations and traditional rituals together. The taboos which existed almost a century ago have largely disappeared while still maintaining the proud Marwari tradition.

Vaishya, or trading and commerce, is the most famous caste among Marwaris. Marwari Baniyas are famous for their trading & business skill. These include

Rajputs of Marwar were famous for their valour, strength and fighting skill. Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Maheshwaris are a Vaishnava business community in India They are originated from Khandela, Rajasthan The Oswal are a social group (and Caste) of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan, Gujarat ( Halar and Kutch regions · Porvad (पोरवाड also called Porwad Porwal etc are an ancient Jain community that originated from southern Rajasthan. There are also Marwari Brahmins like Shrimalis, Pushkarnas and Gods.

Language

Dark green indicates Marwari speaking home area in Rajasthan, light green indicates additional dialect areas where speakers identify their language as Marwari.
Dark green indicates Marwari speaking home area in Rajasthan, light green indicates additional dialect areas where speakers identify their language as Marwari.

Marwari is also a language belonging to the Sanskritic subgroup, of the Indo-Aryan branch, of the Indo-European language family. The Marwari language (mārwāṛī also variously Marvari, Marwadi, Marvadi) is spoken in the Indian state of Rajasthan, but is also found in Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical The Indo-Aryan languages (within the context of Indo-European studies also Indic) are a branch of the Indo-European language family Marwari, or Marrubhasha, as it is referred to by Marwaris, is the traditional, historical, language of the Marwari ethnicity. Though many Marwaris today cannot speak Marwari, and have adopted other Indian languages, primarily Hindi, and English, many still speak a smattering of Marwari. Large numbers, especially in Rajasthan, still converse fluently in Marwari. Various dialects of the language are found, which vary with the speakers' areas of origin, communities etc. A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος dialektos) is a variety of a Language that is characteristic of a particular group of

Diaspora

Marwari Baniyas spread to many regions of India, and even to neighboring countries, as they expanded their business and trade networks. In many locales, Marwari immigrants over time (and, usually involving many generations) adopted, or blended into, the regional culture. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic For example, in Punjab, Marwaris adopted Punjabi, and in Gujarat, Gujarati, and so forth. Significant concentrations of Marwari vaish live in Kolkata in the Burrabazar area and are leading lights in business there. A large number of Marwaris are also in Mumbai and Hyderabad. Mumbai ( Marathi:,, IPA: formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the financial Marwaris have founded businesses in neighboring Nepal, especially in Beerganj, Viratnagar and Kathmandu. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Bairat is a town in northern Jaipur District of Rajasthan, state, India Kathmandu (काठमांडौ येँ is the Capital and the largest city of Nepal.

Marwari baniyas, with their business acumen, have migrated across many different parts of the country, and to other countries of the world. In the eastern part of India, they are found in Kolkata, Asansol,Raniganj,Siliguri, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, etc. Asansol (আসানসোল a coal-mining-industrial-commercial centre is the second largest city in West Bengal, after Kolkata. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Raniganj (রাণীগঞ্জ is a city and a Municipality in Bardhaman district Siliguri (শিলিগুড়ি ''Shiliguṛi'') is a rapidly developing metropolis in the Indian state of West Bengal. Assam) ( Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a suburb of the city Meghalaya is a small state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means "The Abode of Clouds" in Sanskrit and Manipur (mnipur in Meitei Mayek) is a state in northeastern India, making its capital in the city of , where Marwaris are among the prominent businessmen.

The socioeconomic and sociocultural functions and interactions of the Marwari community bear a striking resemblance to those of the Jewish trading communities of the Mediterranean and Europe. PLEASE TAKE NOTE************

Marwaris extended the reach and influence of their Indian financial and commercial networks from the 17th century through the early 19th century to Persia and Central Asia. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south

Demographics

The Marwaris now constitute several social groups dispersed throughout India and Pakistan and across the globe, including many remote areas. The total population worldwide is difficult to measure and subject to secular, linguistic, cultural and other parameters of defining who is a Marwari. Although useful estimates about their numbers are not available, some regional estimates have been made. For example, an estimate indicates that their number “never reached above 200,000 at any stage of their presence in Bengal. ”

History

The earliest recorded account begins from the time of Mughal empire. Since the time of the Mughal period (16th century-19th centuries), particularly from the time of Akbar (1542-1605), Marwari entrepreneurs have been moving out of their homeland of Marwar and Rajasthan, and adjoining regions, to different parts of Undivided India. The Mughal Empire ( Persian and self-designation گورکانی; مغلیہ سلطنت) was an Islamic imperial power which ruled most The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Akbar redirects here For other uses see Akbar (disambiguation Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar ( Jalāl ud-Dīn Muhammad Akbar India has several socio-political historical and geographical meanings The first waves migration took place during the Mughal period, and a number of Marwari baniyas moved to the eastern parts of India, currently comprising the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, and Jharkhand; and Bangladesh. West Bengal ( Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Poshchim Bônggo poʃtʃim bɔŋgo is a state in eastern India. Bihar ( Hindi:बिहार Urdu: بہار bɪhaːr) is a state in eastern India. Orissa (ଓଡ଼ିଶା is a state located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. Jharkhand ( Hindi: झारखंड Bengali: ঝাড়খণ্ডdʒʰaːɽkʰəɳɖ is a state in eastern India. ( Bengali: বাংলাদেশ inc-Latn Bangladesh) officially

During the period of the Nawabs of Bengal, Marwari vaishyas exhibited their acumen, and controlled the mint and banking. The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazim s or Subadars (provincial governors of the Subah (province of Bengal during Jagath Seth who controlled the finances of Murshidabad Darbar was an Oswal, one of several sub-groups of Marwaris. The business houses of Gopal Das and Banarasi Das, also Oswal Marwaris,undertook large scale commercial and banking activities. Sarkar_Laxmichand_Hingarh who used to govern gorwar region development , Law & order & Finances & was pioneer of Gorwar regions Topmost firm RS (Rikhabdas Sardarmal) from Rani,_Rajasthan was also Oswal Marwari

Several Marwari baniyas, after permanenet settlement was introduced by the British Raj, acquired large estates, in eastern part of India, particularly in Bengal. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Rani (रानी is a city and a Municipality in Pali district in the Indian For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang They included Dulalachand Singh, (alias Dulsing), a Porwal Marwari, who had acquired several Zamindaris around Dhaka, currently the capital of Bangladesh, as also in Bakarganj, Patuakhali, and Comilla, all places currently part of Bangladesh. Zamindar ( Devanagari: ज़मींदार zamīndār, Urdu: زمیندار zamīndār, Eastern Nagari: জমিদার Dhaka (also known as Dacca ( Bangla: ঢাকা ɖʱaka is the Capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka District. Comilla (কুমিল্লা is a city in south-eastern Bangladesh. These Zamindaris were managed and co-owned with khwajas of Dhaka. Dulalchand Singh family also emerged as a business tycoon controlling jute trade. Jute trade is currently centered around the Indian subcontinent.

After India’s First War of Independence (1857-58), when social and political disturbances subsided, another wave of large scale migration of Marwaris took place, and during the remaining period of 19th century, a number of Marwari business houses, small and big, had emerged. The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of Sepoys of British East India Company 's army on the 10th of May 1857 in the town of Meerut, Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the Year 1858 ( MDCCCLVIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The Marwari community controlled all the major business activities of a large geographical areas of the eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. With a sizeable presence in present day Myanmar and Bangladesh, they controlled major trading and commercial activities in the regions currently comprising the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand. Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar ( pjìdàunzṵ mjàmmà nàinŋàndɔ̀ is the largest country by geographical area in mainland Southeast Asia. They also had almost complete control of indigenous banking, finance and hundi. They took the hundi business to areas where the system was unknown, which included Chittagong, Khulna, Naogaon, Mymensingh, and Arakan. Chittagong ( Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম Chôţţogram) is Bangladesh 's main Seaport and its second-largest city Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. Naogaon (নওগাঁ Nôogã) is a district in Northern Bangladesh. Mymensingh (ময়মনসিংহ is a District and a City of Bangladesh situated near the river Brahmaputra. They competed successfully in these areas with Chettiars who were located in the region for long. The Chettiars also Chetty, Chetti, Setty, Chitty, Shetty and Shettigar is a title commonly used by people of South


Famous and Influential Marwaris

Marwari Houses

Some of the famous and prominent Marwaris trading, commercial, and industrial houses are as under: Aggarwal, Agarwalla, Agarwal, Agrawal, Ajmera, badjatya, Bapna [[Bagla,]] Bagri, Bagaria, Bagrecha, Bahety, Baid, Bajaj, Bajla, Bajoria, Balodia, Bamb, Bamboli, Bangad, Banka, Bangur, Bansal, Bansali, Banthia, Bawalia, Bazari, Bhadoria, Bhageria, Bhartiya, Bhagat, Bhalotia, Bhandari, Bhangadia, Bharatia, Bedmutha, Bhattad, Bholusaria, Bhut, Bhutoria, Bhuwalka, Bindal, Birla, Biyani, Bothara, Borana, Buchasia, Chamaria, Chandak, Choraria, Dave, Daga, Dhoot, Dalmia, Dalamia, Deopura, Deorah, Dhanuka, Dhokharia, Didwania, Dingliwal, Dudavewala, Dugar, Dujari, Dhoot, Dugar, Gadia, Gangh, Gandhi, Ganeriwal, Gadodia, Garodia, Gupta, Goal, Goenka, Gopalka, Goyal, Goyanaka, Gupta, Gyanaka, Harnathka, Heda, Hingarh, Jaipuria, Jajodia, Jaju, Jalan, Jangra, Jhajharia, Jhanwar, Jhunjhunwala, Jhunjhunuwala, Joshi, Kabra, Kajaria, Kankaria, Kanku Chopra, Kanodia, Kansal, Kapoor, Karwa, Kauntia, Kedia, Kejriwal, Khaitan Khandelwal, Khemani, K. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Rani (रानी is a city and a Municipality in Pali district in the Indian Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Bafna also spelt Bafana (Hindiबाफनाis an Indian Jain community and also the surname used by this community Baid are found among both Hindus of India and Pakistan. Baid is a got of the Oswal Bhabras and Mohyal Brahmins Banka may refer to Banka Bihar, a town in Bihar India Banka District, Bihar India Bankə, Azerbaijan Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Bhadauria, Bhadoria, Bhadouria, Bhadoriya, Bhadouriya, Bhadauriya, Bhaduria is a branch of the Chauhan In Hinduism a bhagat (from Sanskrit Bhakta) is a holy person who leads humanity towards God. Bhalothia (भालोठिया is Gotra ( Clan) of Jats found in Rajasthan and Haryana originated from village Bhaloth in district Parivar Seva Sunil Bhandaris taking lot of foods form Bhalla and party This Bhandari speaking community is mainly found in Parivar Seva Bhūta is a Sanskrit word that has several meanings true matter of fact reality (that which is or has been existing present being or being like anything Bindal is a municipality in the Helgeland district in the extreme southwest of the county of Nordland Norway. Dhoot is a Jat Gotra or clan from the North Indian,in maheshwaris also found in Punjab Haryana and Rajasthan The Dalmia Companies came into existence in India in the early 1930s as the Dalmia- Jain Group Dugar is one of the many Gotras or clan names for Indo-Aryan people who originated from Marwar in Rajasthan, India. Dhoot is a Jat Gotra or clan from the North Indian,in maheshwaris also found in Punjab Haryana and Rajasthan Dugar is one of the many Gotras or clan names for Indo-Aryan people who originated from Marwar in Rajasthan, India. Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January Ganeriwal, is a community of people from Rajasthan, India. They are also known as Agrawals Garodia is a surname found usually amongst people from the Garoda village in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. Jhajharia, or Jhanjharia, is a Gotra of Jats found in the Jhunjhunu and Sikar district in the Indian state of Rajasthan This article is about the family name Joshi For other uses and people with the name see Joshi (disambiguation. Kankaria is the biggest Lake of the city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Agrawals (अग्रवाल or अगरवाल are a large and influential community in India. Kapoor or Kapur and sometimes but rarely Capoor, ( Punjabi: ਕਪੂਰ‌ Hindi: कपूर‌ is the name of a clan of Hindus Kedia is a village in Central District of Botswana. It is located 15 km south-west of a larger village Mopipi, and it has a primary school Khaitan Sporting Club is a Kuwaiti professional Football (soccer club K. Khemka & FAMILY, Khetan, Killa, Kothari, Kathotia, Ladda, Lahoti, Lahoty, Lakhotia, Lodha, Lohia, Loyalka, Maloo, Malani, Malpani, Malu, Mandelia, Maskara, Mistri, Mittal, Majaria, Mehta, Modi, Moondra, Moda, Mohanka, Mohata, Mohatta, Mokati, Mour, Murarka, Nevatia, Oswal, Parasrampuria, Parmaar, Parekh, Patodia, Patwa, Patni Poddar, Prahladka, Puranmalka, Rathee, Rathi, Hathundi Rathod, Ruia, Rungta, Rupramka, Saboo, Saharia, Sankhla, Sanghavi Saraf, Saraogi, Saravagi, Sarda, Seksaria, Sekhsaria, Sethi, Semlani, Shah, Sharma, Singhal, Singhania, Singhi, Singhvi, Sisodiya, Sodhani, Somani, Sonkhia, Sonthalia, Suhasaria Sultania, Sundesa, Surana, Sureka, Tantia, Taparia, Tated Talesara, Tayal, Tekriwal Thirani, Todi, Toshniwal, Totla, Trivedi, Vaid, Vyas, Vardhan

Early 20th century Literature and References

In R. " Killa " is the first single by R&B American Group Cherish from their second album The Truth. Kothari is a surname and may refer to Daulat Singh Kothari Jehangir Kothari Komal Kothari Lahoti is a surname of Indian origin They belong to a sub-sect called Maheshwaris who in turn are a sub-sect of Marwaris. Roko Malani (17??-1833 was the eldest son of Rasolo, the first Tui Nayau (Paramount Chief of Fiji 's Lau Islands) and of Laufitu The MassKara Festival is a week-long festival held each year in Bacolod City, the capital of Negros Occidental province in the Philippines every third weekend Indian (Gujarat Rajasthan Punjab and Bombay city Hindu (Bania Vania Brahman Khatri Jain, Parsi, Sikh name meaning ‘chief’ in several The Oswal are a social group (and Caste) of people from the Indian States of Rajasthan, Gujarat ( Halar and Kutch regions Parasrampuria is a tiny village 20 km southwest of Navalgarh It boasts of some the oldest and the best preserved Shekhavati paintings in the region Rathi or Rathee is a clan of Jats found in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana in India. Early history Based on "khyats" (traditional accounts written in seventeenth century it is surmised that the Rathores and Rathods were originally feudatories of the Roongta (रूँगटा are the Marwari Agrawal community originally belonging to the Town of Bagar (District Jhunjhunu) in Rajasthan Saharia is a little-known Tribe in India. The Saharias are found mainly in Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Datia, Shivpuri The Khandelwal Jains are also known as Sarawagi or Saraogi, meaning a Jain Shravaka. Seksaria is an Indian Surname which belongs to the Agarwal Community Sethi is a common surname among Punjabi Hindus and Sikhs now living in India as well as Pakistan. Shah is an Iranian term for a Monarch (leader that has been adopted in many other languages Sharma is a common Indian and Pakistanii surname As a name it frequently occurs at the end of Brahmin names in northern India as well as Emperor Agrasen and Queen Madhavi ruled Agroha around 3200 BC Singhania is a surname found usually amongst people from the northern Indian state of Rajasthan. Singhai (also Sanghavi or Singhi from Sanskrit Sanghapati (संघपति literally chief of the Sangha) is a hereditary title awarded Singhai (also Sanghavi or Singhi from Sanskrit Sanghapati (संघपति literally chief of the Sangha) is a hereditary title awarded The Sisodia (also known as Sesodia or Shishodia or Shishodya or Sisodya or Sisodhya) are a Rajput clan who ruled the kingdom Somani is a surname of Indian origin They belong to a sub-sect called Maheshwaris who in turn are a sub-sect of Marwaris. Sultana is a Town in Jhunjhunu District of the Indian state of Rajasthan. Surana is a small village having around a population of 700 situated 6 km from Narnaul, Haryana, India. The Atayal (泰雅 also known as the Tayal and the Tayan, are one tribe of Taiwanese aborigines. Todi is a town and Comune (municipality of the Province of Perugia ( Umbria) in central Italy. Northern and Western Aryan Family name from Asia Minor and India reflecting the mastery of a Brahmin over the three Vedas (including the Vedic Branch he was born into Vaid is a Brahmin clan from the Punjab, one of the seven clans of the Mohyals The words Vaid & Rajvaid are particularly used to denote medical professionals Vyāsa ( Devanāgarī: व्यास is a central and revered figure in the majority of Hindu traditions V. Russell's 1916 published "Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India" Marwari is desribed as following:

A resident of Mārwār or the desert tract of Rājputāna; Mārwār is also used as a name for Jodhpur State. See subordinate article Rājpūt-Rāthor. The name Mārwāri is commonly applied to Banias coming from Mārwār. See article Bania. A subcaste of Bahna, Gurao, Kumhār, Nai, Sunār and Teli.

However, in his glossary Russell gives reference to another related community:

Marori: A small caste of degraded Rājpūts from Marwār found in the Bhandāra and Chhindwāra Districts and also in Berār. The name is a local corruption of Mārwāri, and is applied to them by their neighbours, though many of the caste do not accept it and call themselves Rājpūts. In Chhindwāra they go by the name of Chhatri, and in the Tirora Tahsīl they are known as Alkari, because they formerly grew the al or Indian madder for a dye, though it has now been driven out of the market. They have been in the Central Provinces for some generations, and though retaining certain peculiarities of dress, which show their northern origin, have abandoned in many respects the caste usages of Rājpūts. Their women wear the Hindustāni angia tied with string behind in place of the Marātha choli or breast-cloth, and drape their sāris after the northern fashion. They wear ornaments of the Rājpūtans shape on their arms, and at their weddings they sing Mārwāri songs. They have Rājpūt sept names, as Parihār, Rāthor, Solanki, Sesodia and others, which constitute exogamous groups and are called kulis. Some of these have split up into two or three subdivisions, as, for instance, the Pathar (stone) Panwārs, the Pāndhre or white Panwārs and the Dhatūra or thorn-apple Panwārs; and members of these different groups may intermarry. [389]The reason seems to be that it was recognised that people belonged to the same Panwār sept who were not blood kin to each other, and the prohibition of marriage between them was a serious inconvenience in a small community. They also have eponymous gotras, as Vasishtha, Batsa and others of the Brāhmanical type, but these do not influence exogamy. The paucity of their numbers and the influence of local usage have caused them to relax the marriage rules adhered to by Rājpūts. Women are very scarce, and a price varying from forty to a hundred rupees is commonly paid for a bride, though they feel keenly the degradation attaching to the acceptance of a bride-price. Widow-marriage is permitted, no doubt for the same reasons, and a girl going wrong with a man of another caste may be readmitted to the community. Divorce is not permitted, and an unfaithful wife may be abandoned; she cannot then marry again in the caste. Formerly, on the arrival of the marriage procession, the bride’s and bridegroom’s parties let off fireworks, aiming them against each other, but this practice is now discontinued. When the bridegroom approaches the marriage-shed the bride comes out and strikes him on the breast or forehead with a ball of dough, a sheet being held between them; the bridegroom throws a handful of rice over her and strikes the festoons of the shed with a naked sword. A bachelor espousing a widow must first be married to a ring, which he thereafter carries in his ear, and if it is lost funeral ceremonies must be performed as for a real wife. Women are tattooed on the arms only. Children have as many as five names, one for ordinary use, and the others for ceremonial purposes and the arrangement of marriages. If a man kills a cow or a cat he must have a miniature figure of the animal made of gold and give it to a Brāhman in expiation of his sin.

Literature

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