The Patni community is a Scheduled Caste who are mainly found in the region of Barak Valley.
[1] Patni might be related to the Domba community of Assam and in some areas their names are used interchangeably.
The main occupation of Patnis include ferrying boats, basket-making, trading and cultivating.
[2][3] According to Patnis folklore Ishwari Patni ferries Goddess Annapurna on his boat, also mentioned by Bharatchandra.
[4] Patnis are also called Nadiyal and they mainly lived in Sylhet, Dacca, etc and migrated towards districts of Assam, West Bengal and Manipur.