Padharia
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
•  India • Gujarat | |
| Languages | |
| • Gujarati, Kutchi | |
| Religion | |
| • Hindu 100% • |
Padhariya / Padharia is name of a Hindu, backward community of Gujarat, India.[2][3] They are found in Saurashtra, Kutch, Banaskantha, Rewakantha and Dang regions of Gujarat.
Padharias get their name as traditional eaters of roots of Bid plant. The ' Bid ' root was unknown to almost all the people of Gujarat except Padharia and some other people. The Padharia males needed an amount of 1-1/2 to 2 seer and females needed 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 seer of 'Bid' food to keep themselves up, as noted by British authorities in their survey of 1905.[4][5]
At present, the total population of Padharias is estimated to be of 24,000 and they are centralized and spread only in Gujarat state of India.[1] They were traditionally involved in professions like catching and selling fish as well in cultivation.[6]
References
- ^ a b Padharia
- ^ [1] Encyclopaedia of backward castes, Volume 2 By M. L. Mathur, page 148
- ^ [2] Land and people of Indian states and union territories: in 36 volumes. Gujarat By S. C. Bhatt, Gopal K. Bhargava page 110
- ^ [3] Agricultural ledger, Volume 11, 1905, page 580
- ^ [4] Agricultural ledger, Volume 11, 1905, page 38
- ^ Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Káthiáwar, 1884