Ras at 01:35, 24 February 2026

2026-02-24T01:35:55Z

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{{short description|Ethnolinguistic group}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group = Awadhi people
| caption =
| pop = 4,715,182<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/C-16_25062018_NEW.pdf|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=7 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite report |date=2021 |title=National Population and Housing Census 2021, Caste/Ethnicity Report |author=National Statistics Office |work=Government of Nepal |url=https://censusnepal.cbs.gov.np/results/downloads/caste-ethnicity}}</ref>
| region1 =
| pop1 =
| ref1 =
| region2 =
| popplace = [[India]] ([[Awadh]]) and [[Nepal]] ([[Terai]])
| rels = '''Majority:''' [[File:Om.svg|15px]] [[Hinduism]] 
'''Minority:''' {{hlist
|[[File:Star and Crescent.svg|18px]] [[Islam]]|[[File:Christian cross.svg|12px]] [[Christianity]]|[[File:Jain Prateek Chihna.svg|12px]] [[Jainism]]|[[File:Dharma Wheel.svg|18px]] [[Buddhism]]}}
| langs = [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] Additionally [[Hindi]]-[[Urdu]]
| related-c = other [[Indo-Aryan peoples]]
| native_name = अवधी 𑂃𑂫𑂡𑂲 {{Nastaliq|اودھی}}
| native_name_lang = awa
| related_groups =
}}

The '''Awadhi people''' or '''Awadhis''' ([[Devanagari]]: अवधी, [[Kaithi]]: 𑂃𑂫𑂡𑂲, [[Perso-Arabic script|Perso-Arabic]]: {{Nastaliq|اودھی}}) are an [[Indo-Aryan peoples|Indo-Aryan]] ethno-linguistic group who speak the [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] language and reside in the [[Awadh]] region of [[Uttar Pradesh]]. Many Awadhis also migrated to [[Madhya Pradesh]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Odisha]] in [[India]] and some adjoining regions of the [[Terai]] in [[Nepal]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Awadhis-48116.htm |title=Awadhis in India}}</ref> and in addition 3 per cent of [[Nepalis]] are Awadhi speakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260118110420/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/nepal/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2026 |title=CIA – The World Factbook – Nepal}}</ref> Awadhi people can be found throughout the world, most notably in [[Fiji]], [[Guyana]], [[Mauritius]], [[South Africa]], [[Suriname]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]], the [[United States]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Canada]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]]. Historically, [[Indo-Aryans]] dominated the North Indian Gangetic Planes; thus, the [[Awadhi language|Awadhi]] language continuously evolved over the centuries in the [[Awadh]] region of Uttar Pradesh.

== Language ==
{{main|Awadhi language}}

The Awadhi language is spoken by about 55 million people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.omniglot.com/writing/awadhi.htm|title=Awadhi language|website=www.omniglot.com|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> In India, native speakers are estimated to be 65 million,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> while in Nepal native speakers are estimated to be 500,000 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/Nepal/Nepal-Census-2011-Vol1.pdf|title=National Population and Housing Census 2011}}</ref>

Linguistically, Awadhi is a distinct language with its own grammar. However, the Indian government considers Awadhi to be a mothertongue under [[Hindi]] language due to political reasons. Awadhi is not formally taught in any institution.{{citation needed|date=June 2019}}

== Cuisine ==
{{main|Awadhi cuisine}}

Consisting of both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes, Awadhi cuisine has influences that can be linked to the [[Mughal Empire]]. It is similar to much of North Indian cuisine and Pakistani cuisine. Awadhi cuisine is known for its use of aromatics and spices, such as [[cardamom]] and [[saffron]], in a slow fire cooking process. There is also notable variety in ingredients that are cooked, such as [[paneer]] and [[mutton]].

In addition, there are rice, curry, dessert, and [[chaat]] preparations that are specific to Awadhi cuisine.

==Notable Awadhis==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}


{{div col}}
*[[Afroz Ahmad]]
*[[Muzaffar Ali]]
*[[Naushad|Nahshad Ali]]
*[[Abhishek Bachchan]]
*[[Anand Satyanand]]
*[[Amitabh Bachchan]]
*[[Harivansh Rai Bachchan]]
*[[Piaa Bajpai]]
*[[Sarita Bhadauria]]
*[[Pali Chandra]]
*[[Abhishek Chaubey]]
*[[Rudrasen Chaudhary]]
*[[Narendra Deva]]
*[[Shanta|Shanta Devi]]
*[[Babu Gulabrai]]
*[[Ali Sardar Jafri]]
*[[Cheddi Jagan]]
*[[Kailas Nath Kaul]]
*[[Imdad Khan]]
*[[Wahid Khan]]
*[[Akhil Kumar]]
*[[Ram Manohar Lohia]]
*[[Amaresh Misra]]
*[[Satish Mishra]]
*[[Gopaldas Neeraj]]
*[[Rishyasringa|Shringi Rushi]]
*[[Babu Himmat Sah]]
*[[Ramchandra Shukla]]
*[[Lal Pratap Singh]]
*[[Babu Bhoop Singh]]
*[[Bajrang Bahadur Singh]]
*[[Nivedita Tiwari]]
*[[Bekal Utsahi]]
*[[Bhagwati Charan Verma]]
*[[Anand Sen Yadav]]
*[[Mitrasen Yadav]]
*[[Raju Srivastav]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Awadhi people]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups divided by international borders]]
[[Category:Ethnic groups in Nepal]]

{{asia-ethno-group-stub}}

[[hi:अवधी लोग]]

Awadhi people - Revision history

Ras at 01:35, 24 February 2026