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| Peoples |
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Rajasthan according to
the 2001 census has a population of 56.5 million.
Rajasthan has a large indigenous populace Minas
(Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur, and
Dholpur areas. The Meo and the Banjara are travelling
tradesmen and artisans. The Gadia Lohar is the
Lohar meaning ironsmith who travels on Gadia
meaning bullock carts; they generally make and
repair agricultural and household implements.
The Bhils are one of the oldest peoples in India,
inhabit the districts of Bhilwara, Chittaurgarh,
Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur, and Sirohi and
are famous for their skill in archery. The Grasia
and nomadic Kathodi live in the Mewar region.
Sahariyas are found in the Kota district, and
the Rabaris of the Marwar region are cattle
breeders.
The Oswals hail from Osiyan near Jodhpur are
successful traders and are predominately Jains.
While the Mahajan (the trading class) is subdivided
into a large number of groups, some of these
groups are Jain, while others are Hindu. In
the north and west, the Jat and Gu jar are among
the largest agricultural communities. The Gujars
who are Hindus dwell in eastern Rajasthan. The
nomadic Rabari or Raika are divided in two groups
the Marus who breed camels and Chalkias who
breed sheep and goats.
The Muslims form less than 10% of the population
and most of them are Sunnis. There is also a
small but affluent community Shiaite Muslims
known as Bhoras in southeastern Rajasthan. The
Rajputs though represent only a small proportion
of the populace are the most influential section
of the people in Rajasthan. They are proud of
their martial reputation and of their ancestry. |
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| Religions |
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Hinduism, the religion
of most of the population, is generally practised
through the worship of Brahma, Shiva, Shakti,
Vishnu, and other gods and goddesses. Nathdwara
is an important religious centre for the Vallabhacharya
sect of Krishna followers. There are also followers
of the Arya Samaj, a reforming sect of modern
Hinduism, as well as other forms of that religion.
Jainism is also important; it has not been the
religion of the rulers of Rajasthan but has
followers among the trading class and the wealthy
section of society. Mahavirji, Ranakpur, Dhulev,
and Karera are the chief centres of Jain pilgrimage.
The Dadupanthi forms another important religious
sect the followe rs of Dadu (d. 1603), who preached
the equality of all men, strict vegetarianism,
total abstinence from intoxicating liquor, and
lifelong celibacy.
Islam, the religion of the State's second largest
religious community, expanded in Rajasthan with
the conquest of Ajmer by Muslim invaders in
the late twelfth century. Khwajah Muin-ud-Din
Chishti, the Muslim missionary, had his headquarters
at Ajmer, and Muslim traders, craftsmen, and
soldiers settled there. The State's population
of Christians and Sikhs is small. |
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