Koshta

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The Koshta are a Hindu caste found in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They are also known as Kesri, which is also used as a surname.[1] In Bihar, the Koshta are also known as Meher.

Origin

They claim descent from Kush, the son of the Hindu God Ram. Actually Koshta originated from Kush and Tha, which reflects Kushvanshi Thakur. The name Koshta is said to be derived from the word "koya", which means a silk cocoon, from which their ancestors used to extract the yarn and weave cloth.

Distribution

In Uttar Pradesh, the community is distributed in Jhansi, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Kanpur, Etawah, Allahabad and Varanasi. They are divided into several exogamous clans, mainly the Likharia, Kesri, Kesaria, Mathe, Bangar, Pateta, Lakheta, Dhaketa, Bakaria, Rahakwar, Narya, Kulhariya,Gorwa, Bhurra, Nimje and Nimja. They are of Kshatriya origin.[2]

Culture

The Koshta are divided into totemistic clans known as killis. They are strictly endogamous and practice clan exogamy. The Koshta speak Sadri, a dialect of Hindi spoken in Jharkhand.[3][4]

They honoured as "Raja Koshta Pind Devju".

Occupation

Their traditional occupation was the weaving of fine silk for God or Kings. Many Koshta have become traders and in Jharkhand are now cultivators.

See also

References

  1. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 847 to 850 Manohar Publications
  2. ↑ People of India Uttar Pradesh Volume XLII Part Three edited by A Hasan & J C Das page 847 to 850 Manohar Publications
  3. ↑ People of India Bihar Volume XVI Part Two edited by S Gopal & Hetukar Jha pages 573 to 577 Seagull Books
  4. ↑ "Aetihasik Ramayankaleen Ramvanshi Kshatriya Rajvansha Ka Itihaas" written by Pandit Indranarayan Sharma Ladampur (Etawah), Published from bharat Press.
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