Kachhi

The Kachhi (Urdu: کچهی ‎) is a geographical region of Punjab, Pakistan. It lies between the Thal Desert and the part of Chenab which flows after its confluence with the Jhelum River at Atharan Hazari in Jhang District. Parts of the districts of Muzaffargarh (including Kot Adu) and Layyah form this region.

See also

Kachhi (caste)

The Kachhi are a Hindu caste, found in the states of Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in India.

Myths of origin

The Kachhis form a part of a wider community that claims a common descent. This community, known as the Kushwaha. nowadays generally claim descent from Kusha, a son of the mythological Rama, who is considered to be an avatar of Vishnu. This enables their claim to be of the Suryavansh - or Solar - dynasty but it is a myth of origin developed in the twentieth century. Prior to that time, the various branches that form the Kushwaha community - the Mauryas, Kachhis, Kachwahas and Koeris - favoured a connection with Shiva and Shakta. Ganga Prasad Gupta claimed in the 1920s that Kushwaha families worshiped Hanuman - described by Pinch as "the embodiment of true devotion to Ram and Sita" - during Kartika, a month in the Hindu lunar calendar.

Present circumstances

In 1991, they were designated an Other Backward Class in the Indian system of positive discrimination.

References