https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=GhasiaraGhasiara - Revision history2026-07-31T04:20:50ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Ghasiara&diff=398523&oldid=prevAjay Kumar at 14:43, 23 July 20232023-07-23T14:43:06Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2018}}<br />
{{one source|date=July 2012}}<br />
The '''Ghasiara''' are a Khatri Hindu caste found in the states of Punjab and Haryana in India. They are also known as '''Ghasi''' and '''Lodha'''.<ref name=":0">People of India Haryana Volume XXIII edited by M.L Sharma and A.K Bhatia pages 185 to 188 Manohar</ref><br />
<br />
== Origin ==<br />
<br />
The Ghasiara claim to be a branch of the [[Lodh|Lodha]] caste of [[Awadh]], who emigrated to [[Rawalpindi]] and [[Multan]] in the 19th century. They were employed in the service of the [[United Kingdom|British]] colonial administration as domestic gardeners in a number of [[cantonment]]s. These [[Lodh]]a acquired the name Ghasiara on the account of the fact that they were employed as grass cutters. The word ''ghahas'' in [[Hindi language|Hindi]] means grass, and ''ghasiara'' is literally means a grass cutter. When the [[partition of India]] occurred in 1947, the community left [[Multan]] and [[Rawalpindi]], which were now in [[Pakistan]], and settled in [[Haryana]]. They were settled in the districts of [[Karnal District|Karnal]] and [[Ambala District|Ambala]] by the [[Government of India]]. Most now speak [[Hindi language|Hindi]], while most also understand [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]].<ref name=":0" /><br />
<br />
== Present Circumstances ==<br />
<br />
The Ghasiara are strictly [[endogamy|endogamous]], and practice clan [[exogamy]]. Their clans are referred to as [[gotra]]s, the main ones being the Pataria, Jaria and Suryavanshi. In their new settlements in [[Haryana]], many Ghasiara now collect the grass they cut and sell it the [[Gurjar|Gujar]] and [[Ahir]] communities, who are pastoralists, as fodder. Most Ghasiara are now daily wage labourers and involved in activities such as rickshaw pulling. They remain an extremely marginalized community, with high incidences of extreme poverty and instances of child labour.<ref name=":0" /><br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<br />
*[[Lodh|Lodha]]<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Social groups of Haryana]]<br />
[[Category:Indian castes]]</div>Ajay Kumar