https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=BharaiBharai - Revision history2026-07-31T06:34:16ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bharai&diff=335771&oldid=prevUpdateBot at 20:09, 25 May 20222022-05-25T20:09:18Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{use Indian English|date=April 2017}}<br />
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
'''Bharai''' are a [[Muslim]] community found in India and Pakistan. They are settled in the states of [[Himachal Pradesh]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] in India, and in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]] province and [[Karachi]] in Pakistan. They are also known as '''Parahin''' and in [[Uttar Pradesh]], the Bharai are also commonly known as [[Sheikh Sarvari|Sheikh Sarwari]].<ref>People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 102 to 105 Manohar</ref><ref>People of India Himachal Pradesh Volume XXIV by B.R Sharma and A.B Sankhyan Manohar 1996 pages 88 to 91</ref><br />
<br />
== Origin ==<br />
<br />
The Bharai were traditionally priests of the Sultani sect, a [[Syncretism|syncretic]] sect with combined elements of [[Hinduism]] and [[Islam]]. The Sultanis were followers of the [[Sufi]] saint Sultan [[Syed Ahmad Sultan|Sakhi Sarwar]] of [[Dera Ghazi Khan]] in what is now Pakistan. Most Sultanis were members of the [[Hindu]] [[Jat]] community, but the Bharai were always Muslim, and belonged either to the [[Muslim Jat]] or [[Muslim Rajput]] [[castes]]. The Jat Bharai claim descent from one Garba Jat, a Hindu attendant at the shrine of Sakhi Sarwar, who said to have been instructed by the Sakhi Sarwar to convert to Islam in a dream. There are various theories as to the origin of the word Bharai.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
== Present circumstances ==<br />
<br />
The Bharai are now mainly settled agriculturists. Many Bharai are involved in rearing cattle, and the community are considered fairly skilled in this activity. Important subsidiary occupation includes service in the army, police and forestry service.<ref>People of India Punjab Volume XXXVII edited by I.J.S Bansal and Swaran Singh pages 102 to 105 Manohar</ref><br />
<br />
Although Sunni, the Bharai still pay special reverence to Sultan Sakhi Sarwar.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Pakistan]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Punjab, India]]<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Himachal Pradesh]]<br />
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]<br />
[[Category:Punjabi tribes]]</div>UpdateBot