| Total population |
|---|
| 291,000[1] |
| Regions with significant populations |
| • India • Nepal |
| Languages |
|
• Hindi • |
| Religion |
|
• Hinduism 100% |
The Thathera are a Hindu community, found mainly in North India, who are involved in the production of household utensils made from various kinds of metal alloys.[2]
Contents |
According to their traditions, they are Chandravanshi, Suryavanshi and Agnivanshi Rajputs, and Chandravanshi they trace their origin from Sahastrabhu, who was killed by Parsuram. They also claim descent from the Haihay kings, a medieval Hindu dynasty.[3]
The Thathera community are divided into 44 clans, the main ones being the Vaghela, Chauhan, Parmar, Jhala, Sodha, Gohil, Rathod,Vadher, Solanki, Bhati,Kagda, Jethwa, Rana, Sisodia, Puvar, Tanwar, Chavda, Vala, Chudasama, Mori, Devda, Padhiyar,Sindhav,Kher, Sarvaiya, Shekhawat, Kachwaha,Mahida, Dodiya,Jadav etc all of which are well known as Rajput/Darbar clans.In Gujarat they are known as Garasia.They use Sinh,Sang,Bha/Ba after his/her names. In Uttar Pradesh, they are found mainly in the districts of Lalitpur, Jalaun, Banda, Kanpur, Lucknow, Mirzapur and Allahabad. In Bihar, they are found in the districts of Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, Nawada, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Munger, and Begusarai.The Bihar Thathera are divided into a number of exogamous clans such as the Chandrahar, Chaswar, Mirdang, Amarpallo, and Peswa.[4]
The Thathera are basically a community of artisans. Metal work, business and repair of utensils are their traditional occupation. Many also cultivate land.In Bihar, many are also jewelers.
The community have a caste council, which deals with disputes connected with divorce, partition of property and dishonesty. They are a Hindu community, worshiping Radha, Krishna, Mataji and other deities of the Hindu pantheon.[3]
The Thathera in Rajasthan are found in the districts Alwar, Jaipur, Madhopur, Jaiselmer, Ajmer, Bikaner, Ujjain and Udaipur. They speak Khari Boli among themselves, and Rajasthani with outsiders. There main clans in Rajasthan are :
In Haryana, the Thathera claim to have been Rajput, who abandoned their traditional occupation and started to manufacture silver and gold coins. They immigrated from Rajasthan in the 19th Century, and settled initially in Rewari. The community then took to manufacturing utensils. A small number of Thathera who are found in the town of Jagadhari, are said to have immigrated from Pakistan. The Haryana Thathera have fifty two clans, each of which is exogamous. There main clans are the Barawashli, Anant, Godomot and Ramgarhia. The community is strictly endogamous.[6]
The Thathera are a landless community, and their traditional occupation remains the manufacture of utensils. Manny Thathera are now petty traders, involved mainly in the selling of utensils and other household items. The Haryana Thathera are Hindu, but have no particular deities.