Rajasthan Tribals
Rajasthan
according to the 2001 census has a population of 56.5 million. Rajasthan has a
large indigenous populace Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and Dholpur
areas. The Meo and the Banjara are travelling tradesmen and artisans. The Gadia
Lohar is the Lohar meaning ironsmith who travels on Gadia meaning bullock carts;
they generally make and repair agricultural and household implements.
The Bhils are one of the oldest peoples in India, inhabit the districts of Bhilwara,
Chittaurgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, and Sirohi and are famous for their
skill in archery. The Grasia and nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region. Sahariyas
are found in the Kota district, and the Rabaris of the Marwar region are cattle
breeders.
The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur are successful traders
and are predominately Jains. While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided
into a large number of groups, some of these groups are Jain, while others are
Hindu. In the north and west, the Jat and Gujar are among the largest agricultural
communities. The Gujars who are Hindus dwell in eastern Rajasthan. The nomadic
Rabari or Raika are divided in two groups the Marus who breed camels and Chalkias
who breed sheep and goats.
The Muslims form less than 10% of the population
and most of them are Sunnis. There is also a small but affluent community Shiaite
Muslims known as Bhoras in southeastern Rajasthan.
The Rajputs though
represent only a small proportion of the populace are the most influential section
of the people in Rajasthan. They are proud of their martial reputation and of
their ancestry.
Hinduism, the religion of most of the population, is generally practised through
the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, and other gods and goddesses.Nathdwara
is an important religious centre for the Vallabhacharya sect of Krishna followers.
There are also followers of the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern Hinduism,
as well as other forms of that religion.
Jainism is also important;
it has not been the religion of the rulers of Rajasthan but has followers among
the trading class and the wealthy section of society. Mahavirji, Ranakpur, Dhulev,
and Karera are the chief centres of Jain pilgrimage.
The Dadupanthi
forms another important religious sect the followers of Dadu (d. 1603), who preached
the equality of all men, strict vegetarianism, total abstinence from intoxicating
liquor, and lifelong celibacy.
Islam, the religion of the State's second
largest religious community, expanded in Rajasthan with the conquest of Ajmer
by Muslim invaders in the late twelfth century. Khwajah Muin-ud-Din Chishti, the
Muslim missionary, had his headquarters at Ajmer, and Muslim traders, craftsmen,
and soldiers settled there. The State's population of Christians and Sikhs is
small.
