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Rajasthan has large
indigenous populace–The Meo and Minas (Minawati) in Alwar, Jaipur, Bharatpur,
and Dholpur areas. The Banjara are travelling tradesmen and artisans. The
Gadia Lohar is the ironsmith (lohar) who travels in bullock carts (Gadia);
they generally make and repair agricultural and household implements. The
Bhils are one of the oldest peoples in India, and 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 Gujar 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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