Nat caste
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Nepal | |
| Languages | |
| • Hindi • Maithili | |
| Religion | |
| • Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| • Muslim Nat • Bazigar • Perna |
The Nat are a Hindu caste found in North India and Nepal.
Those of Bihar claim a Rajput origin, and have traditions similar to the Bazigar caste. The word nat in Sanskrit means a dancer, and the Nat were traditionally entertainers and jugglers. They have fourteen sub-groups, being the Nituria, Rarhi, Chhabhayia, Tikulhara, Tirkuta, Pushtia, Rathore, Kazarhatia, Kathbangi, Banwaria, Kougarh, Lodhra, Korohia, and Gulgulia or Gauleri. The Nat maintain strict clan exogamy, and each clan of equal status.
In Punjab, the Nat claim to be by origin Brahmin of Marwar, whose duty was supply funeral pyres. On a particular occasion, as the community was transporting the funeral pyre, a member of the party died. This was seen as a bad omen, and the community were outcastes. They therefore took the occupation of dancing. They are closely connected with the Bazigar community, who are the jugglers of Punjab. But the two communities remain distinct, and do not intermarry. The community have Scheduled Caste status, and are found mainly in the districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar.
In Haryana, according, Nat traditions say that they are descended from two Chamar brothers, Asa and Basa. The community is divided along religious lines, with a separate and distinct community of Muslim Nat. There traditional occupation was that of an acrobat and entertainer, and provided entertainment to the courts of the various princes.
The community is now associated with cattle trading, with poorer members being professional beggars. Like other nomadic communities they are extremely marginalised. The Nat are Hindu, and with a small number who have converted to Islam and form a distinct community of Muslim Nats. They speak the Magahi language and are found in Gaya, Bhojpur and Rohtas districts.
...
Wikipedia