LauriTym702628 at 04:10, 6 January 2026

2026-01-06T04:10:09Z

New page

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Short description|Costal community of Gujarat, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}

'''Kharwa,''' or '''Kharva''', ([[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]: [[ISO 15919]]: ''Khārvā'') are a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] [[Community]] from [[Gujarat]], India.<ref>People of India Gujarat Vol. XXI Part Two edited by R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen pp. 652-657</ref>

==History==
The Kharwa community is distributed throughout the coastal areas of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]] and [[Kutch district|Kutch]]. Kharwas from Diu also migrated to [[Indians in Mozambique|Mozambique]] and later from there to [[Indians in Portugal|Lisbon]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Roxo |first=Pedro |date=2018 |title=Hindu ''Jati'' (Castes) from Diu Island and the Reproduction of Religious Expressive Culture in the Hindu-Gujarati Diaspora in Mozambique and in Portugal: The ''Kathiyawadi Bhajan'' |journal=[[South Asian Studies]] |doi=10.1080/02666030.2018.1440061 |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=57–69|s2cid=194999206 }}</ref> Shivaji I- king of [[Maratha Empire]] requested to recruit Kharwas from Gujarat port like diu khambat etc along with [[Bhandaris]] and [[Koli people|Kolis]] in large numbers of maratha navy. Kharwas were skilled sailors and seamen who had experience on the seas having traveled to places as far away as Aden, Zanzibar and Singapore. Australia. They were also experienced in building ships.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pendse|first=Sachin|title=The Sea in History - The Early Modern World|publisher=[[Boydell and Brewer]]|year=2017|isbn=9781783271603|editor-last=Buchet|editor-first=Christian|location=|pages=635–48|chapter=Maratha Sea Power|editor-last2=Le Bouëdec|editor-first2=Gérard}}</ref>

== Society and culture==
Mama fui marriage is practised amongst the Kharwas.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Karve|first=I.|date=1943|title=Kinship Terminology and Usages in Gujarāt Hajarat and Kathiāwād |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42929317|journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute|volume=4|issue=3|pages=208–226|jstor=42929317 |issn=0045-9801}}</ref>

== Religion ==

=== Beliefs and practices ===
Kharwa are [[Hindu]] and worship various forms of [[Devi]], including [[Ambika (goddess)|Ambaji]], [[Bhadrakali]], [[Bahuchara Mata|Bahuchara]] and [[Chamunda]] in Porbandar. Other ''Mātās'' worshiped include ''Samudrī, [[Harsidhhi|Sikotarī]]'' and ''[[Hinglaj Mata mandir|Hinglāj]].'' In Kutch ''Khojī, Dilvadī, Mamai, Padmani, Poravel'' and ''Veravali'' ''Mātās'' are also worshiped. [[Jhulelal (Hinduism)|Dariyalal]] is another important deity worshipped by Kharwas and other seafaring communities, including Muslim communities. The Kharwas of [[Mandvi]] tend to be [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnavs]], while those of [[Veraval]] are [[Shaivism|Shaivites]].{{Sfn|Varadarajan|1983|p=5-8}}

=== Festivals ===
Like other marine communities, Kharwas celebrate the opening of the seafaring season, after the passage of the Monsoon on [[Coconut day|Narial Purnima]] which falls on the full moon in the month of [[Shraavana|Śravaṇ]]. Various offerings, including flowers, coconuts and incense sticks are offered to the deity of the sea, [[Samudra]]. Shravan Purnnima is celebrated with [[Shiva]], [[Varuna]], [[Maruts|Marut]], [[Parjanya]] and ''Ratnākar'' are worshiped, with Ganesha to remove any obstacles from their upcoming journeys into the sea. On Bhadravi Amavasya, a fair is held to propitiate Shiva. A lingam is installed along the coast and as the water level rises around it, it is believed that the spirit of Samudra has entered. Another fair is held on the birthday of Dariyalal on the second day of [[Chaitra]], where sweet rice is eaten as [[Prasāda|prasad]]. {{Sfn|Varadarajan|1983|p=5-8}}

==Present circumstances==
Importing and exporting goods by ship remains the traditional occupation of the community. They trade in many countries, including Oman, U.A.E, Somalia, and also other parts of Africa. Many Kharwa now have their own ships for exporting goods and have set up different cooperative societies.

==References==
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* {{Cite journal|last=Varadarajan|first=Lotika|date=1983|title=Indian Seafaring: The Precept and Reality of Kalivarjya|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/41562422|journal=[[Australian Association for Maritime History|The Great Circle]]|volume=5|issue=1|pages=1–12|jstor=41562422 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kharwa (Caste)}}
[[Category:Social groups of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian castes]]

Kharwa caste - Revision history

LauriTym702628 at 04:10, 6 January 2026