The Julaha are a community within the
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...
, which adopted the profession of
weaving
Weaving is a method of textile production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. Other methods are knitting, crocheting, felting, and braiding or plaiting. The longitudinal ...
.
Julaha is the name of the community of weavers and they are
Socially and Educationally Backward. Other prominent weaving and handloom communities of
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...
include the
Salvi,
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu community found in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
Traditionally they are weaver. They are also known as Panka and Panikar.
Etymology
They used to made Pankha(fan). ...
,
Ansari,
Devanga
Devanga (also known as Lingayat Devanga, Devanga Shetty, Devanga Chettiar) is a Hindu caste from South India that traditionally followed the occupation of textile merchandise, weaving and farming mostly found in the Indian states of Karnataka, ...
,
Padmasali (caste)
Padmasali (also spelt as Padmashali, Padmasale) is a Hindu caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. In coastal Karnataka they called Shettigar. Their traditional occupat ...
,
Koshta
Kosta (also spelt as Kosti) are a Hindu caste found in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Origin
Koshta (Koshti) are Dewangans who are into Kosa silk business wher ...
and the Kashmiri Kani weavers.
Known under many names, the julahas have been practising this art for ages.
Etymology
The term ''Julaha'' may derive from the Persian ''julah'' (ball of thread).
Both Hindu and Muslim Julaha (and even Sikh) groups exist. The Julah community comes from a diverse backgrounds and also the influential communities such as Mughal, Rajput, Awan, etc... It's speculated that after experiencing a loss of wealth many took to weaving.
Statistics
Although reliable statistics are old, as per survey done in 1990s, the total population of Julahas in India was around 12 million.
As per
Caste Based Survey of Bihar 2022, the total number of Julahas in Bihar was 4.6 million.
Prominent Figures
Prominent Figures from the weaver community include:
*
Kabir
Kabir ( 15th century) was a well-known Indian devotional mystic poet and sant. His writings influenced Hinduism's Bhakti movement, and his verses are found in Sikhism's scripture Guru Granth Sahib, the Satguru Granth Sahib of Saint Gar ...
*
Maulana Asim Bihari
See also
*
Salvi
*
Panika
The Panika are a Hindu community found in the Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh.
Traditionally they are weaver. They are also known as Panka and Panikar.
Etymology
They used to made Pankha(fan). ...
*
Momin Ansari
The Momin Ansari () or Saudagar are a Muslim community of merchants found mainly in India, Pakistan, and Nepal. The literal meaning of Ansar is "supporter" in Arabic.
In North India, the community are known as Ansari or Shaikh while in Maharas ...
*
Devanga
Devanga (also known as Lingayat Devanga, Devanga Shetty, Devanga Chettiar) is a Hindu caste from South India that traditionally followed the occupation of textile merchandise, weaving and farming mostly found in the Indian states of Karnataka, ...
*
Padmasali (caste)
Padmasali (also spelt as Padmashali, Padmasale) is a Hindu caste residing in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. In coastal Karnataka they called Shettigar. Their traditional occupat ...
*
Koshta
Kosta (also spelt as Kosti) are a Hindu caste found in the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Origin
Koshta (Koshti) are Dewangans who are into Kosa silk business wher ...
* Kashimri Kani weavers
References
Weaving communities of South Asia
Indian castes
Ethnic groups in India
Ethnic groups in Pakistan
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