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The People
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. |
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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. |
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Religion
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. |
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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. |
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