>Goszei at 00:37, 19 February 2021

2021-02-19T00:37:54Z

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{{ethnic group
|group= Jats of Kutch <br> ({{lang-ur| جاٹ مسلمان}})
|image=
|popplace = {{flagcountry|India}}|langs = [[Kutchi language|Kutchi]] • [[Gujarati language]] • [[Parkari Koli language|Parkari Koli]]
|rels= [[Image:Allah-green.svg|18px]] [[Islam]]
|related= • [[Jat]]s • [[Muslim Jat]] • [[Jats of Sindh]] • [[Muley Jat]] • [[Jats of Azad Kashmir]] • [[Samma (tribe)|Samma]]s
}}
The [[Jat]]s of [[Kutch]] are a cattle breeding nomadic [[Muslim]] community, found in the [[Kutch]] region of [[Gujarat]] in [[India]]. They are one of a number of communities of [[Maldhari]] pastoral nomads found in the [[Banni Grasslands Reserve|Banni]] region of [[Kutch]].<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 528-533</ref>

== History and origin ==
[[File:Wedding dress (abho), Memon or Jat, Banni, Kutch, Gujarat, India, late 19th to early 20th century, silk, glass mirrors - DSC00971.JPG|thumb|Wedding dress (abho), Memon or Jat, Banni, Kutch, Gujarat, India, late 19th to early 20th century, silk, glass mirrors - DSC00971]]
The Jat, or Jath claim descent from ancient pastoral tribes of the [[Indus]] delta ([[Indus River Delta]]) region of [[Sindh]], where some members of the tribe still reside. Some that were assimilated from later waves of migration and who remain in [[Sindh]] are referred to as the [[Jats of Sindh|Balochi Jat]]s. From there, they moved into the Bani region in search of pastorage. With the [[partition of India]], the Jat of Kutch have lost all contact with their kinsmen in [[Sindh]]. They appear to be distinct from the [[Jat]] community of [[North India]] and [[Punjab, Pakistan]].<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 528-533</ref>

== Present circumstances ==

The Jats are a [[Maldhari]] cattle-herding group, and are mainly distributed in [[Kutch]] and [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]]. They have three territorial divisions, the Halari Jat (found in [[Jamnagar]] and [[Porbandar]]), Verai Jat ([[Banaskantha District]]), and Kutchi Jat (found in [[Kutch District]]). The Kutchi are further subdivided into the Dhanetah, Girasia and Fakirani, the latter consider themselves superior to the other two, and are strictly endogamous. They are further divided into clans like the Badajang, Podani, Aamar, Vangayi, while the Girasia are divided into the Mudrag, Bhallad and Hallayi. All these clans, except the Fakirani, enjoy equal status. The [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] Jat, known as Malek, maintain a system of [[gotra]] exogamy.<ref>People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pages 528–533</ref>

In addition to cattle rearing, the community are also involved in the breeding of camels, especially the Fakirani. A good many of the [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] community are small-scale peasant farmers. A few are landless, and work as agricultural labourers. The Kutch Jat are also known for their embroidery work.

== See also ==
* [[Jat]]
* [[Jats of Sindh]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian Muslim}}

[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tribes of Kutch]]
[[Category:Maldhari communities]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of India]]
[[Category:Baloch tribes]]
[[Category:Jat]]
[[Category:Sindhi tribes in India]]
[[Category:Muslim communities of Gujarat]]

Jats of Kutch - Revision history

>Goszei at 00:37, 19 February 2021