Koshta
Encyclopedia
The Koshta are a Hindu
caste
found in the states of Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar
in India
. They are also known as Kesri, which is also used as a surname.
God Ram
. Actually koshta is Kush+Tha which reflects Kushvanshi Thakur. In Uttar Pradesh
, the community is distributed in Jhansi
, Jalaun
, Hamirpur
, Kanpur, Etawah
, Allahabad
and Varanasi
. They are divided into several exogamous clans, the main ones being the Likharia, Kesri, Kesaria, Mathe, Bangar, Pateta, Lakheta, Dhaketa, Bakaria, Rahakwar, Narya, Gorwa, Bhurra, Nimje and Nimja. Their traditional occupation was the weaving of fine silk for God or Kings. But many Koshta have given up their traditional occupation, and are now mainly traders. They are of Kshatriya origin.
In Bihar
, the Koshta are also known as Meher. The name Koshta is said to be derived from the word koya, which means a silk cocoon, from which their ancestors used to extract the yarn and weave cloth. They are found mainly in south Bihar
and the Gumla District
of Jharkhand
. The Koshta are divided into totemistic clans known as killis. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their traditional and primary occupation is weaving. Many Koshta of Jharkhand
are now cultivators. The Koshta speak Sadri, a dialect of Hindi
spoken in Jharkhand
.
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 states of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
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 Kesri, which is also used as a surname.
Origin
They claim descent from Kush, the son of the HinduHindu
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...
God Ram
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
. Actually koshta is Kush+Tha which reflects Kushvanshi Thakur. In Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, the community is distributed in Jhansi
Jhansi
Jhansi Hindi:झाँसी, , Marathi: झाशी, is a historical city of India. Jhansi is the administrative headquarters of Jhansi District and Jhansi Division. The original walled city grew up around its stone fort, which crowns a neighboring rock. This district is on the bank of river Betwa.The National...
, Jalaun
Jalaun
Jalaun is a city and a municipal board in Jalaun district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.The town was formerly the residence of a Maratha governor, but never the headquarters of the district, which are at Orai.-History:...
, Hamirpur
Hamirpur District, Uttar Pradesh
Hamirpur district is one of the 70 districts of Uttar Pradesh state of India and Hamirpur town is the district headquarters. Hamirpur district is a part of Chitrakoot Division. The district occupies an area of 4,121.9 km². The district has a population of 1,042,374...
, Kanpur, Etawah
Etawah
Etawah is a city on the Yamuna River in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Etawah District. The city was an important center for the Revolt of 1857 . Also is the place of sangam or confluence between Yamuna and Chambal...
, Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
and Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
. They are divided into several exogamous clans, the main ones being the Likharia, Kesri, Kesaria, Mathe, Bangar, Pateta, Lakheta, Dhaketa, Bakaria, Rahakwar, Narya, Gorwa, Bhurra, Nimje and Nimja. Their traditional occupation was the weaving of fine silk for God or Kings. But many Koshta have given up their traditional occupation, and are now mainly traders. They are of Kshatriya origin.
In Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, the Koshta are also known as Meher. The name Koshta is said to be derived from the word koya, which means a silk cocoon, from which their ancestors used to extract the yarn and weave cloth. They are found mainly in south Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and the Gumla District
Gumla District
Gumla district is one of the twenty-four districts of Jharkhand state, India, and Gumla town is the administrative headquarters of this district.-Etymology:...
of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
. The Koshta are divided into totemistic clans known as killis. They are strictly endogamous, and practice clan exogamy. Their traditional and primary occupation is weaving. Many Koshta of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
are now cultivators. The Koshta speak Sadri, a dialect of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
spoken in Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
.