Lohanas
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • United Kingdom • East Africa | |
| Languages | |
| Primarily Gujarati, Kutchi, Sindhi and Hindi. Also local languages in diaspora countries. | |
| Religion | |
| Primarily Hinduism. Those who converted to Islam are referred to as Memons or Khojas and are now separate independent communities. | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Gujarati people • Sindhi people • Khoja • Memon |
The Lohana, also referred to as Luvana and Luhana, are an Indian caste, traditionally largely occupied as merchants.
The Lohanas are divided into three separate cultural groups as a result of centuries apart in different regions. Thus there are significant differences between the culture, language, professions and societies of Sindhi Lohanas (those who migrated from Sind after partition of India), Kutchi Lohanas (those living or having ancestry in Kutch), and those of Gujarati Lohanas (those living or having ancestry in Saurashtra).
Although considered to be Vaishya in the Hindu ritual ranking system known as varna, the Lohanas favour a mythical origin as members of the Kshatriya varna.
In the 7th century, there was a Buddhist ruler named Agham Lohana ruled a part of Sindh and was Governor of Brahmanabad and contemporary of Chach of Alor. Agham Lohana is referred to in Chach Nama and the city of Agham Kot is said to be named after him. Even the sea around was known as Lohana Darya (Darya means Sea). Chach of Alor killed Agham Lohana in battle of Brahmanand and married his widow and also married his niece to Agham's son Sirhind. Further, Chach is said to have laid restrictions of Lohana and Jat tribes from wearing headgear and carrying weapons. He further placed upon the Jat and Lohana restrictions such as:
The community's oral history says that the decline of their kingdom began after the death of Veer Dada Jashraj the decline of Lohana . It also says that their name derives from the city of Lohargadh (/Lohanpur/Lohkot) in Multan, from which they migrated in the 13th century AD after the establishment of the Muslim rule there.
Pir Sadardin converted many of them to the Shia Ismaili Nizari sect of Islam in 14th Century AD. As Lohanas were worshipers of Shakti, in order to convert them Ismaili missionaries made certain modifications in their doctrines to convert them. They are known as Khojas or Khawaja.
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Wikipedia