Valand

The Valand is the term used in the state of Gujarat in India for the Nai caste.[1]

Clans and divisions

The Valand have several territorial divisions, such as the Soratia, Halai, Gohil, and Jalawadi. They are further divided into clans, called ataks, the main ones being the Solanki, Rathore, Vaghela, Parmar and Hanani. The Valand are endogamous and practice clan exogamy. They speak Gujarati and concentrated in the urban areas. The community are still essentially involved in the barbering trade, with a few rural Valand have taken up agriculture. A few were practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine.[2]

References

  1. ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1415-1418
  2. ↑ People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 1415-1418