Cheetah Mehrat is an ethnic group in the state of
Rajasthan
Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
, India. They are spread across
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 ...
,
Bhilwara,
Pali
Pāli (, IAST: pāl̤i) is a Classical languages of India, classical Middle Indo-Aryan languages, Middle Indo-Aryan language of the Indian subcontinent. It is widely studied because it is the language of the Buddhist ''Pali Canon, Pāli Can ...
, and
Rajsamand
Rajsamand is a city, located in Rajsamand Mewar district of Rajasthan, India. The city is named for Rajsamand Lake, an artificial lake created in the 17th century by Rana Raj Singh Rajsamand Udaipur of Mewar. It is the administrative head ...
districts of Rajasthan.
The estimated population of Cheetah Mehrat is approximately one million people. The community is known for its harmonious coexistence between
Hindus
Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
and
Muslims
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
. They practise both religions.
[ Cheetah Mehrat is classified as an Other Backward Class.
]
History and culture
The origin of the Cheetah Mehrat community lacks documented historical accounts, making it difficult to ascertain their exact roots. The Cheetah Mehrat community claims its origins back to the Chauhan rulers and adopted Islam approximately 700 years ago while preserving their Hindu customs and practices. Despite practicing different religions, the community maintains a strong cultural identity. Their names, marriage rituals, and dressing styles reflect the religion they follow, be it Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...
or Islam
Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...
.[
According to local legend, they claim descent from the Chauhan Rajputs, specifically Rao Anhal Chauhan and his brother Rao Anoop Chauhan. As per the folklore, these brothers established a small kingdom in the region known as Magra Merwara after successfully defeating the Gujjars.]Ajmer district
Ajmer district is a district in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is part of the Ajmer division–one of the seven List of districts of Rajasthan#Divisions, administrative divisions of Rajasthan. The city of Ajmer is the district headquarters. ...
, a prominent location for the Cheetah Mehrat community, a temple and mosque coexist within the same compound, symbolizing unity and understanding. During their weddings, it is customary for the procession to visit both the temple and mosque, honoring the traditions of both religions.[
]
Present circumstances
The Cheetah Mehrat community faces challenges in accessing government schemes and obtaining necessary documents such as ration cards due to their unique identity. Officials sometimes lack understanding of their situation, leading to difficulties in receiving support. However, the community is gradually becoming more aware of its distinctive identity and striving for recognition and equal opportunities.
See also
* Rajasthani people
Rajasthani people or Rajasthanis are a group of Indo-Aryan peoples native to Rajasthan ("the land of kings"), a states of India, state in Northern India. Their language, Rajasthani language, Rajasthani, is a part of the western group of Indo-Ar ...
* List of Muslim Other Backward Classes communities in India
References
External links
A documentary on Cheetah Mehrat
telecasted on Doordarshan
Doordarshan (), abbreviated as DD, is India's State-owned enterprise, state-owned public broadcasting, public television broadcaster. Established by the Government of India on 15 September 1959, it is owned by the Ministry of Information and B ...
Indian castes
Social groups of Rajasthan
Hindu communities
Muslim communities of Rajasthan
Other Backward Classes of Rajasthan
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