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'''Bazigars''' (from {{lang-fa|بازیگر}} bazi + gar), or '''Goaars''', are an ethnic group of north-western India. They are primarily found in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], but there are also communities in [[Haryana]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Delhi]], [[Chandigarh]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], and [[Rajasthan]].{{sfn|Schreffler|2011|p=222}} They were previously nomadic with their main occupation the performance of acrobatics and other forms of entertainment, but they are now settled and engaged mainly in agricultural and similar forms of labour.<ref>{{harvnb|Deb|1987}}; {{harvnb|Schreffler|2011}}.</ref><br />
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== Origin ==<br />
The name Bazigar is derived from the [[Urdu]] word ''bazi'', which means an acrobat. They themselves claim to be [[Chauhan]] [[Rajput]]s, who took to the occupation of acrobatics to escape persecution and attempts to forcefully convert them to [[Islam]] during the period of the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal Emperor]] [[Aurangzeb]]. They have now been granted [[Scheduled Caste]] status in [[Haryana]], [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]] and [[Uttar Pradesh]]. The Bazigar speak their own dialect, known as [[Bazigar language|Bazigar]] which is a [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian]] language, while speaking in [[Hindi language|Hindi]] with outsiders. In [[Haryana]], they are found mainly in the districts of Yamuna Nagar, [[Ambala District|Ambala]], [[Kurukshetra]], [[Rohtak District|Rohtak]], [[Sirsa District|Sirsa]], [[Fatehabad District|Fatehabad]], [[Karnal District|Karnal]]. Major Bazigar clans in Haryan include the Lalka, Myane, Dharsout, Namsout, and Jagateka.<ref>People of India Hayana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 63 to 67 Manohar</ref><br />
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In [[Punjab (India)|Punjab]], the Bazigar have [[Scheduled Caste]] status. They are found throughout Punjab, but in terms of numbers, they are concentrated in [[Patiala District|Patiala]], [[Sangrur District|Sangrur]] and [[Bathinda District|Bathinda]] districts are centres of this tribe. The Bazigar are a nomadic tribe, who go about from village to village practising acrobatic feats. Their primary occupation was the performance of acrobatics. Generally, each family was allocated twelve villages, and the Bazigar were paid by the villagers to entertain them. Many Bazigar were also employed as seasonal agricultural laborers. With the increase in [[television]]s in rural Punjab, the Bazigars traditional occupation is under threat.<ref>People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 94 to 96 Manohar</ref><br />
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The Bazigar are further sub-divided into five sub-groups, the Jogi, Badtia(vertiya), Muchhal(muchhals),Jassuke, Dharamsot and Namsout. The first four sub-divisions cannot intermarry, but Namsout only marry within the clan. Historically, the Bazigar were either [[Hindu]] or [[Muslim]], but with the departure of their [[Muslim]] patrons, the Bazigar have embraced [[Sikhism]]. They have also abandoned their traditional dialect Bazigar boli for standard [[saraiki language|Punjabi]].<ref>People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 94 to 96 Manohar</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
*{{Cite book| last = Deb| first = P. C.| date = 1987| title = Bazigars of Punjab: A Socio-economic Study| publisher = Mittal Publications| location = Delhi}}<br />
*{{cite paper| last = Schreffler| first = Gibb | date = 2011 | title = The Bazigar (Goaar) People and Their Performing Art | journal = Journal of Punjab Studies| volume = 18| number = 1&2| url = https://punjab.global.ucsb.edu/sites/secure.lsit.ucsb.edu.gisp.d7_sp/files/sitefiles/journals/volume18/8_Bazigar_article.pdf}}<br />
*{{cite book| editor-last = Singh| editor-first = Birinder Pal| year = 2010| title = "Criminal" Tribes of Punjab: A Social-anthropological Inquiry| publisher = Routledge| isbn = 9780415551472}}<br />
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{{Ethnic and social groups of the Punjab |state=expanded}}<br />
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[[Category:Ethnic groups in India]]<br />
[[Category:Modern nomads]]<br />
[[Category:Sikh communities]]<br />
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]<br />
[[Category:Scheduled Castes of Haryana]]</div>imported>Citation bot