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Rabari

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Asia in 1200 AD, showing the Yadava Dynasty and its neighbors.

Members of the Rabari or Rewari live throughout the Rajasthan, and Gujarat, states in India. There are many other Rabari families who also live in Pakistan, especially in the region of Sindh. Rabaris are also known by other names such as Desai, Dewasi, Hiravanshi, Rebari, Rebadi, and Rayka or Raika.

Etymology

The word "Rabari" basically means the "Path breakers". This is because they moved out of the bhati rajput community and migrated to desert in protection of the jaisalmer state against the mughals. Since then, they were left out of the community. The Rabari's main business since then used to be raising cattle, camels and goats; for some traditional-minded families this is still the case. However, the new generation is slowly moving away from this way of life as they become better educated. 

raikas was divided into the maru and this maru was the only one pastoral group which keep camels.

Caste and faith

Rabaris claim descent from the Rajput clans such as the Rathore, Solanki, Bhati, Paramara, Chauhan, Tanwar and Ponwar. Many historian shown their arriving at here from central Asia, but some one like Colonel James Todd wrote in his one famous book “TAREEKH-E-RAJISTHAN( HALAT-E-MARAWAR)” (1818) that, Rabari are actually BHATI rajputs who are decedent of seventh wife (Bhadra) of prophet KIRSHANA. These Rabari in the past were great warriors, wise men and clan royalty. Rabari clans are called ' NAKH '. These clans are further sub-divided in SHAKHS [Branches].

About their origin there are interesting myths. According to one of the legends on their origin, Lord Shiva gave Sambal, one of these minions, three apsaras, to marry and flourish with a condition that he will not speak one word to them. If the violated the condition, the apsaras would be lost forever. From his association, one son and four daughters were born. Soon, the family grew large and therefore the lord asked him to go and dwell on the earth. Since then Sambal was called Rabari.

According to another version, Sambal was an ace camel breeder. Someone started stealing the beautiful and sturdy animals. Sambal soon discovered that the stealer was a goddess. However, Sambal caught her and through a clever stratagem removed her clothes, leaving her in an embarrassing situation. As per the tradition in situations like this, the two married and after wandering across Haryana, Rajasthan and Sind, settled in Kutch.

Rabaris are devout Hindus. According to their myth of existence they were created by Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, who wiped the dust and sweat from Shiva as he was meditating and fashioned the very first camel from the dust balls she collected from his body. Once Shiva had breathed life into this camel, it kept running away, so Parvati fashioned a man, and the first Rabari was given life so he could mind the camel. Keeping animals has thus always been a pious occupation and Rabaris see themselves primarily as custodians of animals during their moral existence, rather than their owners. It is also their beliefs that the mother goddess presides over them. Her advice is taken about when to start out migration, and animals are commended to her care.

Part of a large family

Rabaris are mainly dependent on the milk profession. Other communities like them are identified by different names in different regions of the country like Maldhari, Dhanger, Gowda etc. The only commonality is the profession of cattle raising. They have lived in different parts of India for a millennia. While Rabari are comparatively a recent migrant. They are the part of Huns (Hunas). Other tribes each claim different origin. An example, Oraon are the earliest inhabitant (Abrogenial) of the Orisa province in south east India. Prier to the arrival of the Aryan tribe or Sanskrit speaking people. "Reference Structure" of Hindu society by N.K. Bose published by Oriental Longman limited Delhi in 1937. Gowda claim origin from Dravidians. Dravidians were the original people in India. They are the ones who established the Indus civilization, and reference Harrapa and Monajodaro archaeological findings. These sites were in Indus valley thousands of years prier to the arrival of Aryan. These other tribes or caste are good, but none of them have any genealogical, hereditary, endogeny or exogeny relationships to each other. Each of these are proud people. They developed their profession (cattle raising) independently of each other in different parts of India over thousands of years ago.

Reference to support this statement is found in the books published in twentieth century by many authors. Particularly by N.K.Bose as noted above, and his second book, Castes. (The emergence of the South Asian social system) by Mortan Klass. Published by- Institute for study of Human issue, Philadelphia. PA. USA.

Andar, Ahiyaru, Appugol, Ahir, Bharwad, Bharavadaru, Dhangar, Dhangad / Dhanwar / Dhanka /Dhangod, Doddi, Gadaria, Gaddi, Gadhariya, Gowda,, Gadri, Gurjar, Gollavadu, Gounder, Halumatha, Heggades, Idyar, Khuruk, Kuda, Kuruba, Kurumba, Kurmar, Kurumbar, Kalavar,Kalotra(Brahmin of Rabari cast), Kuruma, Kurumavaaru, Kurkhi, Kurupu, Maldhari, Mer, Naikers, Nikhers, Oraon, Pal / Pala, Palaru, Paalakyatriya, Poduvar, Yadav, Pashupalak, Spetc. castes can be considered as their distant relatives.

There are a number of areas where Rabari community live, and the majority of Rabari's live all over the states of India's Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhyapradesh and now they are getting involved and played important roles in the development of India, by developing themselves in education, milk business etc.

Religion

All Rabaris follow the Hindu religion. Rabari are worshippers of Mata Devi. Many of them serve as priests (Bhuva/Bhopa) in Mata Devi temples. Mata Devi, however is honoured in all her natural elements. Rabaris also worship 'Goga Maharaj', who is believed to be the incarnation of 'Gogaji Chauhan', a brave Rajput warrior, who laid down his life to save the cows of Rabaris. Rabari in the Saurashtra region (Gujarat) believe in Momai mataji. They have 8 main madh(temples) and 1 deri (temple). Every year on [Navratri festival] they celebrate a community function called punj. Rabari from all over the state, get together and worship the goddess. Rabaris in North-Gujarat annually performs 'Ramel', in which rituals are done for the whole night by Bhuvas (Priests), generally in Chaitra maas(in summer).

Important religious places of Rabari caste:-

Dwarkadheesh Krishna Mandir

Rabari culture

Traditional Tattoos

Rabaris have a very rich cultural past and present. They are known for their "Rabari Bharat (Embroidery)",especially in Kutch. Embroidery is a vital, living, and evolving expression of the crafted textile tradition of the Rabaris. Rabari women diligently embroider on textiles as an expression of creativity, aesthetics and identity as far back as the tribe’s collective memory goes. Afternoons are time for embroidery in all Rabari villages, where women routinely embroider trousseaus, everyday apparel, dowry bags, bride's ghagro (skirt), kanchali (blouse) and ludi (veil), the groom's kediyan or shirt, children's cradle cloths as well as dowry bags and auspicious torans. Rabari embroidery is very vigorous, with many bold shapes. Designs are taken from mythology and from their desert surroundings. They use glass mirrors in various shapes: round, lozenge, rectangular, square, triangular, and beak shaped. The stitches are square chain interlaced with buttonholes for mirror work, single chain, knot, Romanian, blankets interlaced with herringbone, running, and double running. Another interesting aspect of Rabari women is their earrings which are the most abstract form of snake earrings. Women in Puskar, Rajasthan describe a mushroom as snake umbrella, because it comes out after the rains and snakes have the habit of hiding under its hood. The nagali earring are supposed to stand for the double shape of the mushroom. [Tribal woman with traditional Spiral Earrings.jpg|framed|Rabari Tribal Woman with traditional earrings. ]

Rabari tribes, now living in Kutch passed the Puskar region on their migration from the north of Rajasthan and may have seen the local earrings there, or rather transferred their main designs to the village people.

The nagali earrings of the Kutchi Rabari with their spiral, spring like shape can be considered as the form most closely related to the snake. Their attire(clothes),which is different on regional basis, also shows their culture. We can see that in the Navratri festival days, urban people try to imitate their attire. The Rabari women are easily distinguished by their long, black headscarves, which fall loosely to the ground. They wear distinctive heavy brass earrings which hang low, stretching the earlobes. They tattoo magical symbols onto their necks, breasts and arms. Their jewelry is modest in comparison to other tribal women. They wear small gold nose rings and silver and gold chains around their neck on where protective amulets are hung. Few simple glass bracelets adorn their arms.

In contrast to woman, a Rabari man commonly appears in white dress, golden earrings and a big stick in his hand. They wear dhoti and on the top a short double breasted waist coat (all white) laced over the chest and tied, long sleeves which are gathered up and folded at the arms. The head is covered with a 'Paghadi'(Turban).

They also have mass collections of rare folk songs and stories. Rabari women even sing on their loved one's death occasion, which is their tradition.

One of the most common things in their culture is highlighted in their food habit; wherever they may belong, they consume lots of milk and milk products.

Lifestyle

Traditionally they are camel herders and wanderers, and were once nomadic people. These days the Rabaris are said to be semi-nomadic. Some live in small hamlets of round huts with mud walls and thatched roofs. The women manage the hamlets and are shrewd and intelligent. They sell wool and clarified butter to city merchants and manage all money matters. The women are usually strong, beautiful,tall and well built. The Rabari men are also tall,handsome and well-built. They can often be seen roaming the countryside with their droves. They travel hundreds of miles on annual migration routes in search of new pastures to graze their animals.

Rabari girls can be married as young as 15-months old. Most of the Rabari marriages take place on the same day once a year and can be a very extravagant event involving polygamist rites.

Nowadays a very small percentage of Rabari are nomadic. (1-2%) Most of the grazing land is gone in India, because of an increase in human population. After the independence of India, many other opportunities opened up in business and education. So most Rabari at present day have settled down in their original communities, and are engaging in commerce and agriculture. Many have entered into politics. In the state of Gujarat some Rabaris became ministers and member of parliament in Delhi. Education has opened up other avenue for them. So many have become lawyers, engineers, teachers, nurses, dentists, doctors and MOD staff.

Not all Rabari live in India now, some who wanted a better life live abroad in countries like Canada, USA, UK, Australia and Italy.

Rabari sub-castes (Shakh)

As stated earlier,Rabaris are also believed to be the sub-castes of Rajputs because they share many clans like Rathod, Solanki, Bhati, Parmar etc. with Rajputs. These clans are called ' NAKH ' in Rabaris. These clans are further sub-divided in SHAKHS [Branches].The total Shakhs are 133. The Shakhs are also known as "VIHOTAR" which means Vis+Sau+Ter(20+100+13=133). Rabari's have 133 sub casts like Laltuka, Nagoh, Moidav, Bhungor, Kola, Aal, Khambhalya, Khatana, Ghangol, Bhangra,, Kalotara, Mori, Bhumbhaliya, Savdharia, Punchlya, Kodiyatar, Bharai,Verana,etc.

A- Aal, Azaana

B- Bar, Bhaangra, Bharai, Bhadka, Bhatcha or Bhaatka, Bhedred, Bhoku (pohku), Bhumbhaliya, Bhungor, Bhusya, Buchotar, Balesh, Bhim, Bhopu, Bhundre, Bhati,Baharai & Badh.

C- Chavda, Charakta, Chelaana (Bharai), Chauhan (Chohan), Charamta

D- Daya, Dev, Dodana, Diya, Dhagal ,Dedar


E-ENDU


G- Garchar, Galchar, Ghatiya, Gehar(punjab), Ghanghar, Gohil, Garsar,Goyal

H- haumod, Hathol, Huchol (Suchol), Hun,Haran

I- Ihor

J- Jamla, Jaha, Jotana, Jiyod

K- Kachhela, Kachhod, Kaalor, Kaid, Kalotra, Khaambhala, Khatana, Kola, Kankuta, Kataria, Karmata,Kodiyatar,Katara

L- Lalutara, Laltuka, Lodha, Luni

M- Makwana, Moidav or Moree, Motan, Maru,Musar

N- Nogoh, Navor

P- Padhar, Padheriya, Pahwala, Parmar, Punchhalya, Padhiyar, Pavar, Patval, Panwar, Pusala

R- Ranjya, Roziya, Rathod, Ranva,Rada

S- Sambod, Savdhariya, Seval, Shekha, Shilora, Solanki, Songra,Sangawat,savdhor,Shamla,Sindhal

T- Tomar

U- Ulava, Umot

V- Vatma,Verana,Vansh,Vanda

Community hostels and educational institutions

  • Kirtivan Gopalak Chhatralay,Patan, Gujarat.
  • Shree Purandham Chhatralay Chotila, Gujarat.
  • Junagadh Rabari Chhatralay, Junagadh, Gujarat.
  • Samasta Sorathiya Rabari Seva Samaj, Porbandar, Gujarat. Currently run by Shri Virabhai Garchar
  • Vada Rabari Chhatralay, Vada, Gujarat.
  • Shri Vadwala Dudhrej Chhatralay, Dudhrej, Gujarat.
  • Bhavnagar Rabari Chhatralay, Bhavnagar,Gujarat.
  • Gopalak Chhatralay, Thara, Banaskantha, Gujarat.
  • Mangal Mandir Chhatralay, Bhujodi, Kutch, Gujarat.
  • Gopalak Chhatralay, Anjar, Kutch, Gujarat.
  • Gopalak Chhatralay, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
  • Shree Vadvala Chhatralay, Radhanpur, Gujarat.
  • Maldhari Hostel, run by Maldhari community and MARAG, Rapar, Kutchh, Gujarat.
  • Kanya Chhatralay, run by Gram Seva Mandal and MARAG, Fattepur, Patan, Gujarat
  • Saraswati Hostel, Deesa, Gujarat.
  • Govindpura School, Dhedhal, Deesa, Gujarat.
  • Rabari Gopalak Chhatralay, Deesa, Gujarat.
  • Gopalak Chhatralay, visnagar, [mehsana], Gujarat
  • "BalramDas Gulabdas sant Ashram"(Bhagwandasji maharaj)Pushkar Rajasthan
  • Gulabdas ji maharaj birth place Nokha chandavtan,dist-nagour, Rajasthan
  • Rabari samaj PABU JI MANDIR, bawani khera distt. bhiwani ,haryana

Rabari NGO and charitable trusts

  • "'RAIKA JAGRATI MANCH" Nagaur,Rajasthan run by RAMU RAM RAIKA professor in govt. college Nagaur,Rajasthan.'
  • "RECT" ( Raika Education Charitable Trust), run by Lalsingh Pawar (Director) and Surata ram dewasi (IES,Govt of India) in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • "Ram Roti Annakshetra Aashram", run by Vaja Bhagat,Surendranagar, Gujarat.
  • "Manav Kalyan Trust", run by Lallubhai Desai, Gujarat.
  • "Janjagran Sangh", run by Tejabhai Desai, Gujarat.
  • "Neh", run by Hemant Bar, Surendranagar, Gujarat.
  • "WAMIP" (World alliance of mobile indigenous people), run by Secretary General Lalji Desai from India and President Chachu Ganya from Kenya. This is mainly organization of the pastoralist people which has based in more than 38 countries. It has Secretariat at MARAG, Ahmedabad,
  • "MARAG" (MALDHARI RURAL ACTION GROUP)' An organization working in 42 block of Gujarat and also now networking in 12 state of India. this organization founded by Neeta Maldhari(Pandya) and Lalji Desai in 1994. MARAG is focusing on rights of the Maldharis. MARAG has been raising pastoralist issues from grass root to the global level, from villages to UN level. Also working with long term approach on right to livelihood, education,and governance. "MARAG" believes in collective leadership, accountability and equity.

SAMAJ NGO Run by Karshan Bharvad at Viramgam

* Rebari- a nomadic\semi nomadic tribe by Devesh Raika Nagaur,Rajasthan.

  • "Gopal Bandhu", run by Govindbhai Desai since last 40 years, Mehsana, Gujarat,
  • "Rajasthan Lok Disha", run by Umedsingh Dewasi, Jaipur, Rajasthan.
  • "Gopal Gatha", run by Amrutbhai Desai, Gujarat.
  • "Rabari Mahima", run by Virabhai Kodiyatar, Porbandar, Gujarat.
  • "Gopalak Dotcom", run by Arjunbhai Desai,Vadodara, Gujarat.
  • "Valonu" A development magazine run by Laljibhai and Neetaben of MARAG.
  • vadnagar rabari samaj kamlesh rabari nadioad Charamta vadnagar
  • DAHEGAM RABARI SAMAJ...by K.R.RABARI

Problems of Rabari community

  • Illiteracy
  • Child marriage
  • Prevalence of superstitions
  • Social barriers
  • Redundant old age-traditions
  • Divorce issues
  • Lack of hostels and community places in major cities
  • Many reside in rural areas and earn very little
  • Youth are unemployed or can only find substandard employment
  • Reduced pasture land ("gauchar")
  • Lack of representation in political system despite large population
  • Lack of all-India or statewide unity organizations
  • Migration from their native places
  • Extravagant and expensive events like engagements, marriages, "Maameru" (gifts from the bride's family during a wedding), dowry, etc., and its imitation
  • Lack of knowledge in community about culture

See also

References

  • Robyn Davidson (November 1, 1997). Desert Places, pastoral nomads in India (the Rabari). Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-026797-6. {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  • Mirella Ferrera, People of the world. Published by VMB publisher 13100 Vercelli, Italy 2005
  • Rabari: A Pastoral Community of Kutch: by Francesco D'orazi Flavoni
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