Key Highlights:
- Diverse Ethnic Groups
- Nomadic Pastoralists
- Rabari Traditions
- Muslim Pastoralist Clans
- Unique Marital Practices
- Banni Grasslands
The Rabari community stands out prominently in the Kutchi cultural landscape. Spread across Kutch, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, Rabaris are Hindu cattle-breeders and shepherds organized into regional sub-divisions such as the Garasia, Kachela, Dhebaria, and Wagadia. They hold deep reverence for deities like the mother goddess, Ramdev Pir, and other folk heroes. In Kutch, Rabaris follow a unique tradition of celebrating all their community’s marriages on a single day, Gokul Ashtami, to mark Lord Krishna’s birth.
Another significant group within the Kutchi community is the Jaths, a nomadic Muslim pastoralist tribe. They began migrating from Sindh to Kutch over 400 years ago. The Jaths are further divided into clans such as Dhanetah, Fakirani, and Garasia, each with distinct cultural practices. The Banni region, with its rich pastures and proximity to the Great Rann of Kutch, is home to many Jath settlements. These clans maintain their heritage through livestock grazing, primarily cattle, and are an integral part of Kutch’s pastoral economy and cultural identity.
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