Pokhariya

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Pokhariya or Pokharia is the group of people live in the newly formed state of Uttarakhand, India. It is an old Rajput clan living in the Garkha region of Pithoragarh district in the Kanalichhina developmental block of Didihat Tehsil.The history of Pokhariya's Rajput clan traces back to the medieval period. They were primarily from the area now called Pokharan in modern Rajesthan. Muslim attackers attempted to convert them there; seeking to preserve their purity of blood, they refused to submit and waged guerilla warfare against the Muslims.They later moved to Nepal and settled near modern Pokhara in Nepal.They conflicted with natives there, and later on moved and settled in the present place in Uttaranchal. The clan has a number of traditions such as Jatta, Anthoo, Harela and prayer and Gandeli to deities such as Hushkar', Balchhin ,'Kalua and Kalchhin and Garh-Devi(deity of fort). Pokhariya are confined to Dangti, Dungara and Dokuna.

Ref: History of Kumaun by B.D. Pant