Thakar (tribe)

Thakar is a forward tribe of India.[1] They are Rajput tribe originally living in areas of Maharashtra but now scattered all over india[1][2]

They are also called by other names like Thakar, Thakur, Ka Thakar, Ma Thakar (क ठाकर,म ठाकर) Ka Thakur and Ma Thakur (क ठाकुर,म ठाकुर). Thakars and Thakurs are Indo-Aryans and speak a dialect of Marathi.

However, the surname Thakar (ठकार) belongs to the Deshastha Brahmin caste in Maharashtra. They are natives of Pune district but can be found in some nearby places of Maharashtra , including Aurangabad. They typically speak Marathi language.

Geographical distribution

The Thakars were originally living in all the hilly areas of Western Ghats in Maharashtra but are currently scatteres across the entire state. As per 2001 census, the population of the Thakurs/Thakars in Maharashtra was 487,696 and the literacy rate was 50.9%.[3]

Culture

They have rich traditions of folk dance, songs and unique culture of their own. They celebrate Diwali in a different way. On this occasion, they light lamps made from a fruit called chibra, which are placed on a stand made of cow-dung. At home, the celebrations are in form of a breakfast of boiled corn, sweet potato and chauli. The grain stored in wicker basket called kangas is worshiped during Diwali. This time of year they do frenetic dance to the beats of dhols, crooning Amhi thakar thakar ya ranachi ga pakhar.... ("We are Thakars, Thakars.. the birds of these woods").[4]

The famous Marathi film Jait Re Jait depicted the Thakar tribe.

References

  1. 1 2 List of Castes & Tribes in Maharashtra Archived 2010-01-29 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ These Adivasis belong to Thakar and Thakur tribes. Archived 2011-03-16 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ "Maharashtra - Data Highlights: the Scheduled Tribes - Census of India 2001" (PDF). Website on Census of India. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
  4. ↑ http://www.aadiwasithakar.com
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