Beldar

The Beldar are a historically nomadic tribe, originally from Northern India and now inhabiting many other parts of that country. They speak the Beldari language.

History and origin

The community are the traditionally natives of North India, and are similar to the Odh communities, who are the navies of west India. They also claim common ancestry with Kewat community, who similarly refer to themselves as Odhs.

In Maharashtra, the Beldar are found mainly in the districts of Aurangabad, Nasik, Pune, Amravati, Akola, Yawatmal, Ahmednagar, Sholapur, Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Ratnagiri and the city of Mumbai. The Beldar claim to have immigrated from Rajasthan some five centuries ago. They still speak Rajasthani among themselves and Marathi with outsiders. and also use a Beldari language. The community is strictly endogamous, and consists of a number of exogamous clans. Their main clans are the Nonya, Narora, Davawar, Kharola, Jailwar, Faatara, Horwar, Chhapawar, Tuse, Pannewar, Mahore, Basniwar, Bahr, Gorala and Udainwar. They have there personal history towards shifting from one place to another. Moreover, they categories themselves like in a form of sub-section of Beldar caste. Some categorizations are Mangal, Sadhra, Nadhra and many more.