Somvanshi Kshatriya Pathare
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Somvanshi Kshatriya Pathare (SKP) (belonging to the lunar race) are known to be related to Bhoj Raja of Madhya Pradesh. They are comprised of 'Panch Kalashi's'. Pandavas, in the epic Mahabharata also belonged to the lunar race.
These people are mainly based in Mumbai and nearby places like Alibag, Uran, Cheul, Revdanda, Murud, Maap gaon, Kihim and others. Common surnames in this community are Goregaonkar, Bhatte, Mhatre, Paralkar, Dadarkar, Date, Worlikar, Raote, Chemburkar, Ovalekar, Mahimkar, Pathare, Raut, Medhekar, Naik, Surnaik, Tekalkar, Thakur, Patil, Rath, Gharat, Mantri, Pansare and others. It may be noted that several of these names derive from actual places in Mumbai, e.g. Goregaonkar from Goregaon, Dadarkar from Dadar, Chemburkar from Chembur and so forth.
The primary language spoken by these people is Marathi mixed with Vadval. They are mainly involved in agriculture and carpentry but engineers and doctors and other service professions are also more common these days.
They mostly worship Tuljapur's Bhavani mata, Kolhapur's Ambabai, Karla's Ekviraa aai, and Jejuri's Khandoba. They also worship several goddesses (unique to each clan) who have ancient temples around Mumbai like the Hardai and Harbai at Malad, and Jogeshwari Devi (from where the suburb takes it name), Shilai Devi (Beje Nasik), Satmadevi (Mulgaon, Vasai) and Mahalaxmi near Marine Drive, (Mumbai).
It has been noted in the history of the Marathas in relation to the annexation of the Fort of Vasai that the "Naiks" were a prominent key to get this coveted fort. The Naiks who posed as petty workers or carpenters entered the Fort and mapped it. This crucial information was used by the Marathas to create a base in the important Vasai and Sopara area, which was a major trading port in the times.
