{{Short description|Community from the Gangatic region}} {{pp-move-indef}}
{{pp-protected|small=yes}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}} The '''Kahars''' are a community of palanquin bearers originating from the Gangetic region in India.<ref name="Singh1998">{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=People of India: Rajasthan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vm_KCE4XXPMC&pg=PA467|accessdate=28 June 2013|date=1 January 1998|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-769-2|pages=467–}}</ref> thumb|Palanquin Bearers, India. Circa 19th-century
Kahars are present in most parts of India, but are concentrated in North India. They are found mainly in West Uttar Pradesh, in Sarsawa, Saharanpur, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Shahjahanpur, Sultanpur, Faizabad, Jaunpur and Ambedkar Nagar districts of Uttar Pradesh and most parts of Bihar and West Bengal.<ref name="KSS">{{cite book|author=Kumar Suresh Singh|title=India's communities |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lZuAAAAMAAJ&q=kahar|date=1998|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-01-9563-354-2|pages=1443–1448}}</ref> They were engaged to officiate at the various holy occasions which occur along the banks of the Ganges river. ==Subdivisions== Kahar has been described as a social community rather than a caste. It is formed by coming together of several castes and tribes, who shared the same traditional occupation.
The traditional occupation of Kahars has primarily been palanquin bearing but they have also worked as water carriers and water chestnut farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. On these occupational grounds, they are divided in eleven sub-clans. These are Bhoi, Dhimar, Dhuriya, Guria, Gond, Kaleni, Kamlethar, Hurka, Machhera, Mahara, Panbhara and Singhariya.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/uttar-pradesh/those-carrying-doli-want-to-be-removed-from-the-obc-list-high-court-sought-answers-from-center-and-state-201725768007840.html|title= ओबीसी सूची से बाहर होना चाहते हैं डोली उठाने वाले कहार, हाईकोर्ट ने केंद्र और राज्य से मांगा जवाब |website=Hindustan|accessdate=9 September 2024}}</ref> Kahars are currently classified as Other Backward Class in the state of Uttar Pradesh.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central List of OBCs for the State of Uttar Pradesh |url=http://ncbc.nic.in/writereaddata/cl/up.pdf |access-date=18 August 2023 |website=Government of India - National Commission for Backward Classes}}</ref>
In Rajasthan, the Kahars have three sub-divisions, the Budana and Turaha. These sub-divisions consist of clans, the main ones being the Pindwal, Bamnawat, Katariya, Bilawat, Kashyap and Oatasaniya. The origins of most of these sub-divisions are rooted in Rajasthan.<ref>People of India Rajasthan Volume XXXVIII Part Two edited by B.K Lavania, D. K Samanta, S K Mandal & N.N Vyas page 467 to 470 Popular Prakashan</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/2004/09/24/stories/2004092402740300.htm | title=Caste certificate of Bajrang Dal convener cancelled | date=24 September 2004 | newspaper=The Hindu | accessdate=13 February 2019 }}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Setback for Akhilesh government as High Court stays their order to include 17 sub-castes in the SC category |date=24 January 2017 |work=Financial Express |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/elections/uttar-pradesh-assembly-elections-2017/setback-for-akhilesh-government-as-high-court-stays-their-order-to-include-17-sub-castes-in-the-sc-category/520325/ |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UP govt to include 17 other backward castes in SC list |date=22 December 2016 |agency=PTI |work=Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-govt-to-include-17-other-backward-castes-in-sc-list/story-jQWfybFAcSJTnwj2k4NxqO.html |accessdate=2017-02-04}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh Category:Social groups of Bihar Category:Social groups of Madhya Pradesh Category:Social groups of Rajasthan Category:Fishing castes Category:Other Backward Classes Category:Social groups of Karnataka Category:Social groups of Maharashtra Category:Social groups of West Bengal