Godha
Encyclopedia
The Godha are Hindu
caste
found in the state of Gujarat in India
. They are also known as Gondha and Gonda. The Godha use Dengar as a community surname.
tribals that migrated from Madhya Pradesh
some five centuries ago. They are mainly distributed in Surat
and Valsad
. The Godha now speak Gujarati
.
. They have no system of clans, or clan hierarchy. The Godha are a landless community with their primary occupation is weaving blankets. Many are now involved in a number of occupations such tailoring while others are employed in the diamond cutting industry. The Godha are Hindu
and have their own tribal goddeses such as Kan-bai and Man-bai.
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
found in the state of Gujarat in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. They are also known as Gondha and Gonda. The Godha use Dengar as a community surname.
History and origin
The Godha are descended from a group of GondGondi people
The Gondi, Goindi or Gond people are people in central India, spread over the states of Madhya Pradesh, eastern Maharashtra , Chhattisgarh, northern Andhra Pradesh, and Western Orissa. With over four million people, they are the largest tribe in Central India.The Gondi language is related to...
tribals that migrated from Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
some five centuries ago. They are mainly distributed in Surat
Surat district
Surat is a district in the state of Gujarat India with Surat city as the administrative headquarters of this district. It is surrounded by Bharuch, Narmada , Navsari and Dang districts. To the west is the Gulf of Cambay. It is the second-most advanced district in Gujarat...
and Valsad
Valsad district
Valsad district is one of the 26 districts in the Western Indian state of Gujarat. It is bound by Navsari district to the north, Dang district to the east and the State of Maharashtra to the south. The Arabian Sea lies west of the district...
. The Godha now speak Gujarati
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
.
Present circumstances
The Godha practice community endogamyEndogamy
Endogamy is the practice of marrying within a specific ethnic group, class, or social group, rejecting others on such basis as being unsuitable for marriage or other close personal relationships. A Greek Orthodox Christian endogamist, for example, would require that a marriage be only with another...
. They have no system of clans, or clan hierarchy. The Godha are a landless community with their primary occupation is weaving blankets. Many are now involved in a number of occupations such tailoring while others are employed in the diamond cutting industry. The Godha are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and have their own tribal goddeses such as Kan-bai and Man-bai.