The Kharwa community is distributed throughout the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. Some Kharwas from Diu also migrated to Mozambique and later from there to Lisbon.[2] The Maratha Empire recruited Kharwas along with Bhandaris and Kolis in large numbers for their navy in the mid-1600s. Kharwas were skilled fishermen and seamen who had experience on the seas having traveled to places as far away as Aden, Zanzibar and Singapore. They were also experienced with building ships.[3]
Society and culture
Cross-cousin marriage is practised amongst the Kharwas.[4]
Religion
Beliefs and practices
Kharwas are Hindu and worship various forms of Devi, including Ambaji, Bhadrakali, Bahuchara and Chamunda in Porbandar. Other Mātās worshiped include Samudrī, Sikotarī and Hinglāj. In Kutch Khojī, Dilvadī, Mamai, Padmani, Poravel and VeravaniMātās are also worshiped. Dariyalal is another important deity worshipped by Kharwas and other seafaring communities, including Muslim communities. The Kharwas of Mandvi tend to be Vaishnavs, while those of Somnath and Veraval are Shaivites.[5]
Festivals
Like other marine communities, Kharwas celebrate the opening of the seafaring season, after the passage of the Monsoon on Narial Purnima which falls on the full moon in the month of Śravaṇ. Various offerings, including flowers, coconuts and incense sticks are offered to the deity of the sea, Samudra. Shravan Purnnima is celebrated with Shiva, Varuna, Marut, Parjanya and Ratnākar are worshiped, with Ganesha to remove any obstacles from their upcoming journeys into the sea. On Bhadravi Amavasya, a fair is held to propitiate Shiva. A lingam is installed along the coast and as the water level rises around it, it is believed that the spirit of Samudra has entered. Another fair is held on the birthday of Dariyalal on the second day of Chaitra, where sweet rice is eaten as prasad. [5]
Present circumstances
Importing and exporting goods by ship remains the traditional occupation of the community. They trade in many countries, including Oman, U.A.E, Somalia, and also other parts of Africa. Many Kharwa now have their own ships for exporting goods and have set up different cooperative societies.
References
^People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 652-657
^Roxo, Pedro (2018). "Hindu Jati (Castes) from Diu Island and the Reproduction of Religious Expressive Culture in the Hindu-Gujarati Diaspora in Mozambique and in Portugal: The Kathiyawadi Bhajan". South Asian Studies. 34 (1): 57–69. doi:10.1080/02666030.2018.1440061.
^Pendse, Sachin. "Maratha Sea Power". In Buchet, Christian; Le Bouëdec, Gérard (eds.). The Sea in History - The Early Modern World. Boydell and Brewer. pp. 635–48. ISBN9781783271603.
^Karve, I. (1943). "KINSHIP TERMINOLOGY AND KINSHIP USAGES IN GUJARĀT AND KATHIĀWĀD". Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute. 4 (3): 208–226. ISSN 0045-9801.
Varadarajan, Lotika (1983). "Indian Seafaring: The Precept and Reality of Kalivarjya". The Great Circle. 5 (1): 1–12 – via JSTOR.
January 07, 2023
kharwa, caste, kharwa, kharva, gujarati, 15919, khārvā, jati, from, gujarat, india, dariyalal, temple, mandvi, contents, history, society, culture, religion, beliefs, practices, festivals, present, circumstances, references, sourceshistory, editthe, kharwa, co. Kharwa or Kharva Gujarati ISO 15919 Kharva are a jati from Gujarat India 1 Dariyalal Temple Mandvi Contents 1 History 2 Society and culture 3 Religion 3 1 Beliefs and practices 3 2 Festivals 4 Present circumstances 5 References 5 1 SourcesHistory EditThe Kharwa community is distributed throughout the coastal areas of Saurashtra and Kutch Some Kharwas from Diu also migrated to Mozambique and later from there to Lisbon 2 The Maratha Empire recruited Kharwas along with Bhandaris and Kolis in large numbers for their navy in the mid 1600s Kharwas were skilled fishermen and seamen who had experience on the seas having traveled to places as far away as Aden Zanzibar and Singapore They were also experienced with building ships 3 Society and culture EditCross cousin marriage is practised amongst the Kharwas 4 Religion EditBeliefs and practices Edit Kharwas are Hindu and worship various forms of Devi including Ambaji Bhadrakali Bahuchara and Chamunda in Porbandar Other Matas worshiped include Samudri Sikotari and Hinglaj In Kutch Khoji Dilvadi Mamai Padmani Poravel and Veravani Matas are also worshiped Dariyalal is another important deity worshipped by Kharwas and other seafaring communities including Muslim communities The Kharwas of Mandvi tend to be Vaishnavs while those of Somnath and Veraval are Shaivites 5 Festivals Edit Like other marine communities Kharwas celebrate the opening of the seafaring season after the passage of the Monsoon on Narial Purnima which falls on the full moon in the month of Sravaṇ Various offerings including flowers coconuts and incense sticks are offered to the deity of the sea Samudra Shravan Purnnima is celebrated with Shiva Varuna Marut Parjanya and Ratnakar are worshiped with Ganesha to remove any obstacles from their upcoming journeys into the sea On Bhadravi Amavasya a fair is held to propitiate Shiva A lingam is installed along the coast and as the water level rises around it it is believed that the spirit of Samudra has entered Another fair is held on the birthday of Dariyalal on the second day of Chaitra where sweet rice is eaten as prasad 5 Present circumstances EditImporting and exporting goods by ship remains the traditional occupation of the community They trade in many countries including Oman U A E Somalia and also other parts of Africa Many Kharwa now have their own ships for exporting goods and have set up different cooperative societies References Edit People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R B Lal P B S V Padmanabham G Krishnan amp M Azeez Mohideen pages 652 657 Roxo Pedro 2018 Hindu Jati Castes from Diu Island and the Reproduction of Religious Expressive Culture in the Hindu Gujarati Diaspora in Mozambique and in Portugal The Kathiyawadi Bhajan South Asian Studies 34 1 57 69 doi 10 1080 02666030 2018 1440061 Pendse Sachin Maratha Sea Power In Buchet Christian Le Bouedec Gerard eds The Sea in History The Early Modern World Boydell and Brewer pp 635 48 ISBN 9781783271603 Karve I 1943 KINSHIP TERMINOLOGY AND KINSHIP USAGES IN GUJARAT AND KATHIAWAD Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute 4 3 208 226 ISSN 0045 9801 a b Varadarajan 1983 p 5 8 Sources Edit Varadarajan Lotika 1983 Indian Seafaring The Precept and Reality of Kalivarjya The Great Circle 5 1 1 12 via JSTOR Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kharwa caste amp oldid 1126033385, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
