Agrahari Sikh is a
Sikh
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...
community found in
Eastern India
East India is a region consisting of the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha
and West Bengal and also the union territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The states of Bihar and West Bengal lie on the Indo-Gangetic plain. Jharkhan ...
that includes the
States of West Bengal,
Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and
Jharkhand
Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...
.
History
Agrahari Sikhs have lived for centuries in
Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and
Jharkhand
Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...
. In the presence of Guru Sahib, Agraharis adopted the
for protecting their life and religion.
The Agrahari are a sub-group of the Bania(Vaishya) people, traditionally involved in trade, with some Agrahari Banias following Sikhism. Agrahari Sikhs are of the non-Punjabi background.
Agrahari Sikhs are settled in
Sasaram
Sasaram (), also spelled as Shahasaram, is a historical city and a municipal corporation region in the Rohtas district of Bihar state in eastern India.
The city served as the capital of the Sur dynasty during Sher Shah Suri's rule over India in ...
,
Gaya in Bihar, Kolkata city of West Bengal, Dumari (
Hunterganj
Hunterganj (''Shaligram Ramnarayapur''), is a historic town in the Chatra subdivision of the Chatra district, Jharkhand, India.
Etymology
The town is now named after Shaligram Singh and Ram Narayan Singh, two eminent freedom fighters of Chatr ...
), Kedli Chatti (of Jharkhand) and even other places of
Bihar
Bihar ( ) is a states and union territories of India, state in Eastern India. It is the list of states and union territories of India by population, second largest state by population, the List of states and union territories of India by are ...
and
Jharkhand
Jharkhand (; ) is a States and union territories of India, state in East India, eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north ...
. They are also found in some parts of
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
. Agrahari Sikhs maintain separate Gurudwaras in Bihar and West Bengal.
References
{{Sikhism
Surnames of Indian origin
Social groups of Bihar
Sikh groups and sects
People from Hisar district