Khedaval

The Khedaval or Khedawal is a leading Gujarati Brahmin community better known as Baj Khedaval Brahmin.^[1]

They are also termed as Khetak Brahmins and are believed to have originated from kheda in central gujarat or khedbrahma in north gujarat. Some believe them to have migrated from south india to gujarat.

One theory is that Khedawal is a geographical title referring to Kheda in Ghazni , Afghanistan. Khedawals, along with other people came from Kheda, Ghazni, Afghanistan to Gujarat in that era and another Kheda, Gujarat came into existence. Eventhough origin history of Kheda, Gujarat is not very clear, Jats who significantly contributed to its establishment claims common ancestry with Afghans. This further strengthens this theory. Usage of word “Baj” (which is Hunter Bird or “Shikari Pakshi” or “Aakhetak” and is well respected and vital in Afghan culture) in title is also very indicative of this fact. Still there is some confusion regarding Chennai connection some links may come up in future.

They hails from Saurashtra in west India,^[2] while the related Gujarat Baj Khedaval Brahmin caste hails from central parts of Gujarat.

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