Rabari

The Rabari people are an ethnic group of primarily India. They are also known as Rebari, Raikas, and Dewasi.[1] They tend to be pastoralists and are in north, central, and western states of India such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Punjab, as well as Sindh in Pakistan.

An elderly Rabari woman from Nadapa, Gujarat
Rabari, a caste of camel-herders - Tashrih al-aqvam (1825)

Origin

The Rabari myth of origin is that Shiva put them on earth to tend to the camels owned by Parvati.[2]

Demographics

In the semi-desert Kachchh region of Gujarat and the Maldharis are the most significant of the pastoralist communities. In these areas they comprise five related groups, the Debar, Gardo, Kantho, Katchi, and Ragad.[3]

References
  1. Köhler-Rollefson, Ilse (1992). "The Raika Deomedary Breeders of Rajasthan: A Pastoral System in Crisis" (PDF). Nomadic Peoples. 30: 74–83.
  2. Street (2002), p. 29
  3. Street (2002), pp. 28-29

Bibliography

Further reading
  • Davidson, Robyn (November 1, 1997). Desert Places, pastoral nomads in India (the Rabari). Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-026797-6.
  • Mirella Ferrera, People of the world. Published by VMB publisher 13100 Vercelli, Italy 2005
  • Flavoni, Francesco D'orazi (1990). Rabari: A Pastoral Community of Kutch. Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts and Brijbasi Printers. ISBN 978-8-17107-026-8.
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