Bhavsar

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=January 2014}} {{Infobox caste |caste_name=Bhavsar |classification= |subdivisions= |populated_states=Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh |languages= Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi |religions= Hindu, Jain }}

'''Bhavsar''' or "Bhavsara Kshatriya" is a Hindu caste. As time passed, the Bhavsar community was made up of community involved in Calico printing business. In Gujarat, Bhavsar are also known as '''Baniya''' (Vaniya) as the Bhavsar community has a long history of trading in textile, agriculture and other retail businesses.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Structure of Indian Society: Then and Now |first=A. M. |last=Shah |publisher=Routledge |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-13619-771-0 |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HtrfCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA175}}</ref> Subcategories in Bhavsar community are '''Hindu Bhavsar''' and '''Jain Bhavsar''' which represents diverse religions practices within Bhavsar community.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Structure of Indian Society: Then and Now |first=A. M. |last=Shah |publisher=Routledge |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-13619-771-0 |page=175 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HtrfCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA175}}</ref>

In the early 1850s, Bhavsars earned their riches through the clothing business, farmlands, havelis, and horses, but most Bhavsars are now pursuing modern-day occupations, including private sector or public sector jobs. After the Independence of India, Bhavsars did not get much in the way of government grants or opportunities. Bhavsars are being considered in '''open category.''' With limited alternatives (including Government grants, or benefits, after independence) Bhavsar youth mainly went towards higher education categories including engineering, medical, business degree and others. Surnames of Marathi-speaking Bhavsar people include Anchalkar, Gondkar, Achekar, and Vaijwade, among others.<ref name="Singh Lal Anthropological Survey of India 2003 p. ">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1=K.S. | last2=Lal | first2=R.B. | author3=Anthropological Survey of India | title=Gujarat | publisher=Anthropological Survey of India | issue=pt. 1 | year=2003 | isbn=978-81-7991-104-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Cy_-FXW9BQC | language=es | access-date=9 October 2022 | page=}}</ref><ref name="Gafoor 1955 p. ">{{cite book | last=Gafoor | first=K.A. | title=Social Services in Hyderabad | publisher=Citizen Press | series=Publication | year=1955 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i55CAQAAIAAJ | access-date=9 October 2022 | page=}}</ref><ref name="Census of India, 1901 1902 p. ">{{cite book | title=Census of India, 1901 | issue=v. 18, pt. 1 | year=1902 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hjJRAAAAYAAJ | access-date=9 October 2022 | page=}}</ref>

==History== According to legend, the Bhavsar originated in the Saurashtra region, which is now in the state of Gujarat.<ref name="Singh 2003 206">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India | title = People of India: Gujarat | year = 2003 | publisher = Popular Prakashan | isbn = 81-7991-104-7 | pages = 206 }}</ref><ref name="Singh 1998 146">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India | title = People of India: Rajasthan | year = 1998 | publisher = Popular Prakashan | isbn = 81-7154-766-4 | pages = 146 }}</ref>

The Bhavsar community has negotiated with the Pakistani government to assure passage for regular pilgrimages to Hinglaj.<ref name="Singh 1998 148">{{cite book | last = Singh | first = Kumar Suresh, Anthropological Survey of India | title = People of India: Rajasthan | year = 1998 | publisher = Popular Prakashan | isbn = 81-7154-766-4 | pages = 148 }}</ref> Hinglaj Mata is their Community deity.<ref name="Singh Lavania Anthropological Survey of India 1998 p. ">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1=K.S. | last2=Lavania | first2=B.K. | author3=Anthropological Survey of India | title=Rajasthan | publisher=Popular Prakashan | series=People of India | issue=pt. 1 | year=1998 | isbn=978-81-7154-766-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iKsqzB4P1ioC | access-date=9 October 2022 | page=148}}</ref>

==Language== The Bhavsar community in Gujarat speak Gujarati,<ref name="Singh 2003 206"/> those in Maharashtra speak Marathi and those in Rajasthan speak a Rajasthani dialect,<ref name="Singh 1998 146"/> and the rest speak Hindi, apart from the local language but the Gujarati speaking and Marathi speaking Bhavsars were traditionally endogamous.<ref name="Singh Lal Anthropological Survey of India 2003 p. 206">{{cite book | last1=Singh | first1=K.S. | last2=Lal | first2=R.B. | author3=Anthropological Survey of India | title=Gujarat | publisher=Anthropological Survey of India | issue=pt. 1 | year=2003 | isbn=978-81-7991-104-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Cy_-FXW9BQC | language=es | access-date=9 October 2022 | page=206}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *''Advanced communities among the Kshatriyas of Malwa and Western India'' – Shankar Patwardhan, Arvind Vyas Paper no. AS056/2007 submitted to Anthropological Survey of India

Category:Indian castes Category:Social groups of Gujarat Category:Social groups of Maharashtra Category:Social groups of Rajasthan