Kathi people
The Kathi Darbar is a rulers of Kathiawar (now called Saurashtra) region of Gujarat, western India.[1][2]
History and origin
The Kathis are said to have given their name to the Kathiawar region. They are said to be descended from the Sura, an ancient race of sun worshipers found in western India. According to their traditions, they are descended from Kush, the son of the Hindu god Ram.[3]
Present circumstances
There are two classes of Kathis: 1) Shakhayat and 2) Avatariya. The Shakhayat branch of Kathis includes Khachar, Khuman, Vala and others. They were the rulers. The Avatariya branch of Kathis includes Vichhiya, Dhadhal, Basiya, Kotila, Varu, Dhakhada, Jebaliya, Kamaliya, Patgir, Manjariya, and khavad. Only khavad and Basiya are rulers in Avatariya. They possessed big villages or vast stretches of land and so they were known as Ghardhani Kathis. (i.e. landed gentry)[4]
Kathi people are horse lovers and keep Kathiawari horses, which are known worldwide.[2][need quotation to verify][5]
References
- ^ Shankar, Alaka. Folk Tales of Gujarat. p. 23.
- ^ a b International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds Page 251-252
- ^ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 614-619
- ^ Praduman, Khachar (Winter 2016). "The History Derived from the Songs of the Rulers of Saurashtra" (PDF). Songs of the Rulers of Saurashtra. 1: 40.
- ^ , Bonnie Hendricks (1995). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806127538. Pages 251–252.