Bharwad

The Bharwad are a Hindu caste found in the state of Gujarat in India, primarily engaged in herding livestock.

According to Sudipta Mitra, historians believe the Bharwards arrived in northern Gujarat in the 10th century, fleeing the Muslim invasions of Sindh.

[2] In another origin myth, Krishna burned three rolls of dirt on a fire, which he then shaped into Gowals (to watch over his cattle).

[2] Various reasons are given for the division between Motabhai and Nanabhai, the most popular is that two shepherd brothers were ordered by Krishna to take their flocks to different places.

[4] Mitra notes that they are generally considered to be among the lowest of the pastoral castes, being engaged primarily in the herding of goats and sheep.

[5] There is anecdotal evidence that pet chandla (marriage of children while they are still in the womb) is practised by some members of the community.

[8] The details of clothing — in terms of style, colour and material — have changed over time while retaining a distinct Bharwad character.

Despite it being a relatively recent practice, the wearing of pink and red shawls by both women and men is one of the most obvious identifiers of the modern community and they are worn even by those who shun the other aspects of the Bharwadi dress code in favour of Western styles.

[9] The desire to identify through clothing and also through tattoos may be a reflection of the community's traditional itinerant lifestyle, whereby a means of recognising their fellows was a significant social factor.

[10] The clothing worn by Bharwad women was traditionally made from coarse wool woven by members of local untouchable communities.

The garments at that time — as late as the early 20th century — comprised the bodice, an unstitched black or red waist-cloth, known as a jimi, and a veil.

While the styles and colours remain similar, modern Bharwad women use man-made fibres, such as polyester, and cotton.

[13] Wearing Western-style clothing is still not generally accepted but the traditional three woollen blankets, worn around the head, waist and shoulders, have in many cases been replaced by a cotton kediyu together with a dhoti or chorni.

[5] Bharwads are classified in Gujarat as Other Backward Class,[16] except in the Nesses of the forests of Alech, Barada and Gir where they are Scheduled Tribes.