Soni (caste)

Soni
Total population
319,000 [1]
Regions with significant populations
 India •  United Kingdom
Languages

Sindhi • Kutchi • Gujarati
Religion

Hinduism
Related ethnic groups

• Sunar • Shrimali Brahmins • Bania

The Soni are a Hindu caste found in the all states in India. They are the traditional goldsmiths of Gujarat. The Soni use the following surnames, Pala, Patadiya, Lodia, Raninga, Khera, Changhada, Hanj, Didani, Rathigara, Dholakia, Chedia, Kadecha, Solanki and Srimali. They are also found in the Indian diaspora in the United Kingdom.[2]

Contents

History and origin

The words soni and swan in Hindi and Sanskrit mean gold and so those who work with gold are known as soni. Literally the word in Hindi and Gujarati has the same meaning as goldsmith. Soni is a surname in the Punjab also. The soni of Gujarat comprise a number of distinct endogamous communities. For example, the Parjiya Soni are so named after the village of Prajar in Junagadh District, and claim to be Rajputs. Another group, found in and around the Girnar mountains, is known as the Girnara Soni. Two other groups are the Tragad Soni of Vadodara, Kheda, Surat and Ahmadabad districts, and the Vania Soni of Junagadh, Rajkot, north Gujarat and Surat. They are said to have evolved from a number of castes, such as the Bania and Gujar. The Soni have eleven endogamous sections, which are as follows; Gujar,Maratha, Maru, Mel, Mevda, Mostan, Mulchar, Prajiya, Shrimali and Vania. These groups are further divided into clans, the main ones being Kashyap, Vashisth, Haritas, Gautam, Alery, Kaushik, and Kokasur. There are then further divisions into ataks, important ones being the Pala, Lodia, Raninga, Khera, Changhada, Hanj, Didani, Rathigara, Dholakia, Chedia, Kadescha, Adesara, and Padiar. [3]

Present Circumstances

The Soni are essentially still goldsmiths, with a few also involved in the manufacture other items of jewelry. Like other Hindu castes, they are endogamous, and maintain a system of gotra exogamy. The various sub-divisions of the Soni have their own caste associations, like the Patni Soni Mandal and Shrimali Soni Mandal. They are Vashnavites, and many belonging to the Swaminarayan sect. The community speak various dialects of Gujarati and Kutchi.[4] Shrimali Soni has major part surname with PATADIA and PATADIA surname has big majority in Shrimali Soni Samaj

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=18150&rog3=IN
  2. ^ R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen, ed. People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three. pp. 1318–1324. 
  3. ^ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1318-1324
  4. ^ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1318-1324
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