Bhambi

The Bhambi are a Hindu caste found in the state of Maharashtra in India. They are also known as Chhambar and have scheduled caste status.[1]

Origin

The traditional occupation of the Bhambi was tanning of hides. There are a number of traditions as to the origin of the word Bhambi. Either the name refers to an ancestral village or the bhambi were originally a sub-division of the Chhambars. The name Bhambi has now replaced the word Chhambar. They are further sub-divided into a number of sub-groups, the main ones being the Ahri or Dhor, Chevli or Chouli, Malvan ir Kokani, Daboli, Harali and Ghati. Each of these Bhambi groups are endogamous, and consist of exogamous clans. The Bhambi speak the various locak dialects of Marathi.[2]

Present circumstances

The Bhambi are a landless community, and their traditional occupation was shoemaking, A greater number were employed as agricultural labourers. Like other castes in Maharashtra, a significant number of Bhambi have begun to immigrate to the towns and cities, especially Mumbai. The urbanized Bhambi are now mainly daily wage labourers. They are Hindus, and their customs are similar to other Hindus of Maharashtra.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 234-238
  2. ↑ People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 234-238
  3. ↑ People of India Maharshtra Volume XXX Part One edited by B.V Bhanu, B.R Bhatnagar, D.K Bose, V.S Kulkarni and J Sreenath pages 234-238