TameraWhitham at 03:31, 26 February 2026

2026-02-26T03:31:33Z

New page

{{short description|Hindu agrarian community}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{multiple issues|{{page numbers needed|date=May 2018}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2018}}}}
{{Infobox caste
|caste_name = Bhanushali (bhanshali)(bhansari)(bansari)
|populated_states = [[Gujarat]], [[Maharashtra]]
|languages = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Kutchi language|Kutchhi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[Hindi]], [[Sindhi language|Sindhi]]
|subdivisions = [[AMAL]] [[AMIL ]][[Khaniya]], [[Gori, India|Gori]], [[Gajra]], [[Bhadra]], [[Joisar]], [[Gajra]], [[Mange Bhanushali|Mange]], [[Shethia]], [[Katarmal]], [[Kataria]], [[Chunda]], [[Hurbada]], [[Vador]], [[Samasuya]], [[Dabbha]], [[Fuliya]],[[Nakhua]],[[Mav]], [[Mengar]], [[Harvara]]{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
}}

'''Bhanushali''' is a Suryavanshi Kshatriya [[Hindu]] community. The majority reside in [[Kutch district]] of the Indian state of [[Gujarat]]. Some are also found in the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra region]] and other parts of Gujarat.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gillow|first=John|title=Indian Textiles|publisher=Thames & Hudson|year=2008|pages=221}}</ref> Some have also moved to Thane and Mumbai region of [[Maharashtra]]. They speak [[Kutchi language]].{{Cn|date=December 2025}}

== Origins ==
Bhanushali is a descendant of Lord Rama's son Lav. The name "Bhanushali", translates to "Radiant sun" or "Bearers of the Sun ". Bhanushali is derived from the mythological king Bhanusal. The community was also known as Vegusor/Vagar after the place of Vegukot or Vegugad in [[Rann of Kutch]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lal |first=R. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Cy_-FXW9BQC |title=Gujarat |date=2003 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-104-4 |pages=185 |language=en}}</ref>

Bhanushalis are mainly divided into three sections: Bhanushalis, Halari Bhanushali and Sindhi Bhanushalis. The caste is vegetarian. Bhanushalis have 96 [[Exogamy|exogamous]] sub-divisions, including Mange, Vadore, Gajra, Gori, Bhadra, Nanda and Harbala.<ref name=":0" />

== History ==
Historically, the Bhanushalis had a strong presence in coastal trade and were known for their navigation skills. They were involved in transporting goods, spices, and other merchandise through sea routes, which contributed to the cultural exchange and economic prosperity of the regions they operated in.<ref name=jain>{{cite book|last1=Jain|first1=Jyotindra|title=Folk art and culture of Gujarat: guide to the collection of the Shreyas Folk Museum of Gujarat|date=1980|publisher=University of Michigan|language=English|oclc=499443714}}</ref> Jyotindra Jain theorized that the Bhanushalis migrated to Gujarat from Balochistan, based on their worship of [[Hinglaj Mata]]. He also believed that the [[Lohana]]s and Bhanushalis shared their early home in [[Sindh]] before their migration to Gujarat.

== Communities ==
Bhanushalis are at present divided into two subgroups, according to where they live. The Kutchhi Bhanushali community have ancestry in the [[Kutch district|Kutch]] region, and the Halari Bhanushali community have ancestry in the Halari ([[Jamnagar]]) region.<ref>Bhanushalis Samaj (2018). "[http://www.bhanushalisamaj.in/ About Bhanushalis Community] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809094331/http://www.bhanushalisamaj.in/ |date=2019-08-09 }}".</ref>

== Occupation ==
Bhanushalis are mainly involved in agriculture and farming and others who migrated are mainly involved in big businesses.<ref name=jain/>

== Religion ==
Bhanushalis worship different [[kuldevi]]s as per their clan names / surnames.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Berger|first1=Peter|title=The anthropology of values: essays in honour of Georg Pfeffer|date=2010|publisher=Longman|isbn=9788131728208|page=366|oclc=695854817|language=English}}</ref> They follow Hindu customs and beliefs.<ref>Urmi Chanda-Vaz (January 20, 2018). "[https://scroll.in/magazine/863405/indian-millennials-are-embracing-religious-and-spiritual-tattoos-as-indigenous-cultures-reject-them Indian millennials are embracing religious and spiritual tattoos, as indigenous cultures reject them]".</ref> They also worship [[Veer Dada Jashraj]] and claim, like [[Lohana]]s, that he belonged to their community. Bhanushalis chiefly worship [[Hinglaj]], whose main temple, [[Hinglaj Mata mandir]] is in [[Baluchistan]], their ancestral home.<ref name="jain" /> They worship Karan from Mahabharta as Karan Dada.

==Lohanas==
Bhanushalis shared their early home in [[Sindh]] with Lohanas and seem to share history.<ref name="jain" /> Like [[Lohana]]s, Bhanushalis are involved in trading and gained visibility in business. Like Lohanas they worship [[Rana Jashraj|Dada Jashraj]] as their [[kuladevata]] and [[Harkor]], as [[Kuldevi]]. Many Bhanushalis surnames are also found among [[Lohana]] community.{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

== Notable people ==
* [[Dhvani Bhanushali]], Indian singer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/c/DhvaniBhanushali|title=Dhvani Bhanushali Official YouTube Channel|via=[[YouTube]] }}</ref>
* [[Jay Bhanushali]], Indian television actor
* [[Kishore Bhanushali]], Indian actor and stand-up comedian
* [[Kuntal Joisher]], Indian mountaineer based in Mumbai
* [[Odhavram]], torch bearer for educating Bhanushali Clan
* [[Shyamji Krishna Varma]], Indian revolutionary fighter of Bhanushali community from Mandvi Kutch

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian castes]]
[[Category:Hindu communities]]
[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Vaishya community]]

Bhanushali - Revision history

TameraWhitham at 03:31, 26 February 2026