Mali caste

The Mali are an occupational caste found among the Hindus who traditionally worked as gardeners and florists. They also call themselves Phul Mali, who derived their names from their occupation of growing flowers. The Mali are found throughout North India, East India as well as the Terai region of Nepal and Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, Malis have agriculture as their traditional occupation and are categorized under OBC (Other Backward Communities) for reservation purposes

There are many endogamous groups within Malis. Not all Mali groups have the same origin, culture, history or social standing and there is at least one group, namely, Rajput Mali, from Rajasthan that overlaps with Rajputs and was included under the Rajput sub-category in Marwar State Census Report of 1891 CE.

The Mali community of Rajasthan and other north Indian states adopted the surname Saini during the 1930s when India was under British colonial rule.

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