Vanjari caste
The Vanjari is a community in India. They live spread in the country but have a 1or 1.5 crore in the state of Maharashtra.[1] They are also present in parts of Andhra Pradesh particularly in the districts of Telangana region. A Vanjari or a trader seems to be an occupational description, as it is etymologically identical with Vanijya which means trade or commerce. Vanjari are also called Maratha Vanijya. These peoples were in the past engaged in carrying grain and supplies for maratha armies, before the time of cart-roads and railways.[2]
Society
This community of traditional cultivators is to be found widely in Beed, Latur, Aurangabad, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani in Marathwada regions as well as in Ahmednagar, Pune, Nashik, Thane districts and Khandesh and in Vidarbha. Their mode of living and clothes resemble those of Marathas and Kunbis. They worship traditional Hindu gods, and observe Vedic marriage rituals. Vanjaris speak Marathi.[3]
Religion
Vanjari are basically Hindus there kuldevta is Bhavani of Tuljapur, Renuka Mata of Mahur; as the origin of the Vanjari Caste. They also worship khandoba as kuladaivat.
They worship vithoba. Shri Saint Aawajinath Maharaj, Shri Saint Bhagwan Baba and Shri Saint Wamanbhau are the respectively prominent saint of the Vanjari community. Currently Namdeo sanap shastri hold the gaddi of Bhagwan baba. Every year around 10 lakh Vanjari gather at bhagwan gad on Dussehara.[4][5]
History
The Vanjaris were grain carriers and traders of commodities including quality cattle which they used to breed. During British rule, due to modernisation,[3] Vanjaris changed their traditional occupations. As a result, many of them settled down as farmers near mountains and hilly regions. As of today, the number of Vanjaris is estimated around 7 million.[2] Vanjari sell goods in remote parts of country as well and they have access to many communities through trade.Almost all vanjaris now are engaged in farm sector and large number of them are highly educated. [6][7]
Difference from Banjaras
The view expressed in the 1961 edition of the Gazetteer of Maharashtra that Banjaras and Vanjaris are the two sub-tribes of a larger tribal community needs to be revised in the light of the available evidence. It is more realistic to treat Banjara and Vanjari as two different ethnic groups unrelated to each other. The description of the Banjara community in the reports of the British Government as exhibiting criminal tendencies is not applicable to the Vanjari community of Maharashtra which is mainly agriculturist community. Hence the two communities are treated as two separate groups.[3]
See also
Famous saint Mahatma from vanjari caste
Famous Pravacanakara from vanjari caste
Famous politician from vanjari caste
Famous personalities from vanjari caste
- Sanjay Bangar (Cricketer).
- Dr T P Lahane (Ophthamologist).
- Education
Dr.Vishwanath Karad(MIT)
References
- ^ "Maharashtra Caste List". mumbaicitysetu.org. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
- ^ a b "historical". www.vanjarivishwa.com. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
- ^ a b c gazetteers maharashtra.
- ^ "They come together to celebrate Holi". The Hindu. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
- ^ Wallace, Paul; Roy, Ramashray (2003-05-27). India's 1999 Elections and 20th Century Politics. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9780761995982.
- ^ "maharashtra land and people" (PDF).
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ Vohra, Gautam (1992-01-01). The New Political Elite. Daya Publishing House. ISBN 9788170351092.
- ^ "कर्मयोगी || संत वामनभाऊ || - BookGanga.com". www.bookganga.com. Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- ^ "marathwadasathi newspaper 3 January 2009".
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Who was BJP's Maharashtra star Gopinath Munde? All you need to know". Firstpost. 2014-06-03. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
