The Anderkoti, Koti or Kotiyan (

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

; اندر کوٹی) are a Muslim community found in

Ajmer Ajmer () is a city in the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Ajmer district and Ajmer division. It lies at the centre of Rajasthan, earning it the ...

in India, and in Pakistan.

History and origin

Businessmen, moneylenders and wealthy people hire them as bodyguards for their fearlessness. In the past When the

langar Langar may refer to: Community eating *Langar (Sikhism) *Langar (Sufism) Places Afghanistan *Langar, Badakhshan, Afghanistan *Langar, Bamyan, Afghanistan *Langar, Faryab, Afghanistan *Langar, Herat, Afghanistan *Langar, Wardak, Afghanistan ...

is cooked it first sets apart for the foreign pilgrims, and then it is the hereditary privilege of the people of Anderkot, and of the menials of

Dargah A Sufi shrine or dargah ( ''dargâh'' or ''dargah'', Turkish: ''dergâh'', Hindustani: ''dargāh'' दरगाह درگاہ, ''dôrgah'') is a shrine or tomb built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint or dervi ...

to empty the

cauldron A cauldron (or caldron) is a large cookware and bakeware, pot (kettle) for cooking or boiling over an open fire, with a lid and frequently with an arc-shaped hanger and/or integral handles or feet. There is a rich history of cauldron lore in r ...

. The custom of "looting of deg" is very ancient but no accounts of its origin can be given. however now this practice has been discontinued.

Haidos or Haiydos

In the

Muharram Al-Muharram () is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is banned. It precedes the month of Safar. The tenth of Muharram is known as Ashura, an important day of commemoration in ...

month of Islamic calendar the ''Anderkotis'' do a ritual with their sharp swords known as "Haidos or Haydos ". People form a circle and move their sword in wild confusion on the 9th

after

Isha Isha may refer to: * Isha (Fantasy), a fictional deity from ''Warhammer Fantasy'' * Isha Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev * Isha prayer, the Islamic night-time daily prayer * Isha Upanishad, the Hindu religi ...

and on 10th after Zuhar Prayers .After the Partition Anderkoti people who migrated to Pakistan started this tradition in the

Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...

Sindh Sindh ( ; ; , ; abbr. SD, historically romanized as Sind (caliphal province), Sind or Scinde) is a Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Pakistan. Located in the Geography of Pakistan, southeastern region of the country, Sindh is t ...

and still continued. Hundred men perform this and 100 Swords are given by Ajmer Administration.

References

External links

*
Dainik Bhaskar
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderkoti Muslim communities in Asia Muslim communities of Rajasthan Muslim communities of India Ajmer district History of Ajmer Partition of India Islamic festivals in India Islamic festivals Muslim Brotherhood Sufi saints British India