Kharwa caste

Dariyalal Temple, Mandvi

The Kharwa also spelled as Kharva is a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India. [1]

History and origin

The Kharva community is distributed throughout the coastal areas of Saurashtra and in Mandvi, Mundra, and Ghandhidham, which are Kutch's Coastal region. It is believed that the Kharwa originated from Rajasthan and migrated to the coast during the tenth century, where they took up fishing as well, and imported and exported goods on ships. They are a royal family in Rajput.There are two castes in kharva, mainly raghuvanshi and suryavanshi. Raghuvanshi kharvas are the one who washed Lord Ram's feet before letting him sit in his boat before crossing the river.

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. The community is Hindu.

Veraval

Veraval can be considered a kharva as a main business source income due to seafood export.

Mandvi

In Kutch, the Kharwa are mainly found in Mandvi, where they are the third largest group with regards to population. In Mandvi, there is a street named Kharva Pachada, which is the second biggest and the largest populated street in Mandvi. There is also a street named kharva pachada in Mota Salaya. Kharvas are also known as Malam or Sagarputra ('Sagar' Means 'Ocean' and 'putra' means 'son', 'Sagarputra' Means "Son of the Ocean"). There is also an album created by Bharat Kharva named 'Kharva Re Ame Kharva' featuring a song describing the Kharva caste. Kharvas of Mandvi also celebrate their own festivals such as Moti Rawadi , Nava Naroj and Ashar no medo.

Mundra

They are also found in Mundra in a large number of population. There is a street named after the name Kharva known as kharva pachada. The street name is Kharva street or Dariyalal nagar.

Porbandar

Porbandar many of head members are helping so much nowadays to fulfill the requirement of community. on Asadhi bij Festival all kharva samaj get together for their ancestors.

References

  1. ↑ 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
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