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Members of the Rabari or Rewari tribe live throughout Gujarat, Punjab, Harayana and Rajasthan states in India.They are also known as Desai,Dewasi,Hirvanshi and Rayka/Raika.The story of their origin has it that their men, instead of marrying women, married celestial apsaras, the daughters of the gods. Because of this they were called "the goers out of the path" or Rabari.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.This 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 Nagoh,Moydav,Bhungor,Kola,Aal,Khambhalya,Khatana,Ghangol,Bhangra,Lavtuka,Kalotra etc..

Overview

The word "Rabari" means outsiders. This is because of their occupation. Rabari's main business used to be raising cattle, camels and goats; for some this is still the case. These animals needed lots of space for pasturing. Due to this, the Rabari couldn't live in towns and have room for their animals. They started living on the outskirts of towns and beyond for this necessity. They gave a name to such a community " Dhani ". Dhani means Basati-community. As it was out side the main community, so the name became Rabari for these people.

Another myth is very prevalent, that Rabari are the descendant of lord Shiva. Rabari are the remnant of Huns, who invaded India in the fifth century AD. The Hun king Mihirakla converted to Hinduism in sixth century. ^[1] King Mihirakula adapted Hindu religion, and became a devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is the destroyer of evil in Hindu mythology.

Now a days 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 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 state of Gujrat some Rabaries became ministers and some became member of parliament in Delhi. Education has opened up other avenue for them. So many became 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 and Australia.

Lifestyle

Traditionally they are camel herders, and were once nomadic people. These days the Rabaris are said to be semi-nomadic. They 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 strong, tall and well built. The Rabari men 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.

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 ring and silver and gold chains around the neck on which protective amulets are hung. Few simple glass bracelets adorn their arms. Rabari girls can be married from as young as 15-months old. All Rabari marriages take place on the same day once a year and can be very extravagant event involving polygamist rites.

They are identified by different names in different regions of the country<fact>. Ahir, Maldhari Dhanwer, Gowda etc. The only commonality is the profession of cattle raising. They are living in different parts of India for millennia. While Rabari are comparatively recent migrant. They are the part of Huns (Hunas). Other tribe each claim different origin. An example, Oraon are earliest inhabitant (Abrogenial) of Orisa province in south east India. Prier to the arrival of 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 one who established Indus civilization. Reference Harpa and Monajodaro archaeological findings. These sites were in Indus valley thousands years prier to arrival of Aryan. These other tribes or caste are good, but none of them have any genealogical, hereditary, endogeny or exogeny relation ships to each other. Each of these are proud people. They developed their profession (cattle raising) independently of each other in different part 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 above. 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, Ahir, Appugol, Maldhari / Bharwad / Rabari, Bharavadaru, Dhangar, Dhangad / Dhanwar / Dhanka /Dhangod, Doddi Gowda, Gadhariya, Gadaria, Gowda, Gaddi, Gadri, Gollavadu, Gounder, Halumatha, Heggades, Idyar, Khuruk, Kuda, Kuruba, Kuruba Gowda, Kurumba, Kurmar, Kurumbar, Kalavar, Kuruma, Kurumavaaru, Kurkhi, Kurupu, Naikers, Nikhers, Oraon, Pal / Pala, Palaru, Paalakyatriya, Poduvar, Yadavalu, [Pashupalak, Rayka.

There are number of areas where Rabari community live, and majority of Rabari's live in all over in the states of India's Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhyapradesh and then now they are get involved and played important roles in the development of India by the developing their self in education, milk business etc. (www.hbbhadka.in)]

Religious

The Rabari are worshippers of Mata Devi, the great all-embracing goddess. Many of them serve as priests in Mata Devi temples throughout Gujarat. Mata Devi, however is honoured in all her natural elements, the most popular being the peacock feather and the conch shell.rabari in saurastra region (gujrat) 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 get there togather and worship the goddess.

Important religious places of Rabari caste:-

1.Dudhrej ,near Surendranagar ( Gujarat).

2.Valinath Akhada near Visnagar(Gujarat).

3.Pirana near Ahmedabad(Gujarat).

4.Kasva Goga Maharaj Mandir near Kadi(Gujarat).

Famous Rabaris

1.Ranchod pagi( kutch)-He helped immensely to Indian Army during the war of 1965 A.D and the war of 1971 A.D with Pakistan.He is in good health at the age of post 80.

2.Sagar Rayka-First and the only Member of Parliament of Rabari Caste.

Problems of Rabari community

1.Lack of Literacy.

2.Child Marriage.

3.Prevalance of Superstitions.

4.Male dominance.

5.Redundant old age-traditions.

6.Long fought divorce problems.

7.Lack of hostels and community-places in major cities.

8.Large chunk population still resides in rural area and earning very less.

9.Youth is unemployed or employed in sub-standard employment.

10.Reducing pasture land [ 'Gauchar' ].

About RECT

RECT is a non-profit eduational charitable trust.RECT stands for "Raika Educational Charitable Trust".Any person can help this genuine cause.you can contact it on following web-site.

http://www.raikatrust.com/frmAboutRECT.aspx

See also

• Dhangar
• Maldhari

References

2. Mirella Ferrera, People of the world. Published by VMB publisher 13100 Vercelli, Italy 2005

• Sinlung Sinlung - Indian tribes