Agri Kolis: Difference between revisions

'''Agri'''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kennedy|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=PEZCY_iK3GIC&pg=PA90&dq=Agri+Kolis&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwix4vv3w_HyAhUd63MBHTAoA-oQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=Agri%20Kolis&f=false|title=The Criminal Classes in India|date=1985|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=1985|location=[[India]]|pages=90|language=en}}</ref> also spelled as '''Aagri'''<ref name=":0" /> ({{lang-mr|आगरी}}) is a caste belonging to ''Kshatriya Varna'' of the Hindu religion. Traces of this can be found with the history of Bimba Raja who travelled from Mungi-Paithan to Northern Part of the Konkan region in the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] of [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-16|title=Navi Mumbai: Agri Koli youths on hunger strike, demand regularisation of homes|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/navi-mumbai-agri-koli-youths-on-hunger-strike-demand-regularisation-of-homes-4570839/|access-date=2021-09-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Has Agri Koli Bhavan become the new symbol of corruption at CIDCO and injustice to PAPs|url=https://nmtv.tv/has-agri-koli-bhavan-become-the-new-symbol-of-corruption-at-cidco-and-injustice-to-paps/|access-date=2021-09-09|website=NMTV|language=en-US}}</ref> Agari people speak the [[Agri dialect]] of the [[Marathi language]] which is an oral dialect until the late 20th century.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ghurye|first=Govind Sadashiv|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=5UAdAAAAMAAJ|title=The Mahadev Kolis|date=1957|publisher=Popular Book Depot|year=1957|location=[[Delhi]], [[India]]|pages=7|language=en}}</ref> the main deity of Agri people are Khandoba and Tulja bhavani, Along with Bhairi Dev(Kalbhairavnath ) and Kalkai (Mahakali).  As the Agri people live along with the coastal fishermen caste called Koli, Agari people have cultural impact similar to Koli people, thus misunderstood as Agari people and Koli people are same. However, there is a difference in both the communities. Along with Koli people Agari people also enjoy the local folk music of the Koli people and enjoy their life in the similar fashion and also believe in [[Ekvira|Ekvira Devi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=GURAV|first=Dr MAHADEV D.|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=WKQ0DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA132&dq=Aagri+Koli&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj776GkyfHyAhVEH7cAHQYwDBQQ6AF6BAgHEAM#v=onepage&q=Aagri%20Koli&f=false|title=A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN PUNE DISTRICT|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-387-13602-5|language=en}}</ref> which is actually the Family diety of some of the Son-Koli people. Both of these communites are living together since ages and thus fight for their rights together.

They mainly reside in places such as [[Mumbai]], [[Thane district|Thane]], [[Raigad district|Raigad]], [[Bhiwandi|Nashik, Bhiwandi]], [[Virar]] and [[Vasai]] [[Gujarat|Gujrat]].

Agri people have several of the Clans, some of them listed here<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chand|first=Faquir|url=https://books.google.co.in/books?id=lS-vD6l8cO8C&pg=PA23&dq=Koli+Agris&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlhc2CxvHyAhVC6XMBHROoCxkQ6AF6BAgDEAM#v=onepage&q=Koli%20Agris&f=false|title=Dadra and Nagar Haveli|last2=Sinha|first2=N. K.|publisher=Popular Prakashan|isbn=978-81-7154-762-3|location=India|pages=23|language=en}}</ref>

* [[Panwar|Pawar]]

The early history of the Agri people is unclear. According to the local folklore, the Agri people were musicians at the court of the legendary king [[Ravana]]. Although Ravana is generally considered to be a maleficent figure, he also has the reputation of being a [[Sanskrit literature|Sanskrit]] scholar who was well-versed in the [[Shastra|shastras]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pollet|first=G|url=https://www.google.co.in/books/edition/Indian_Epic_Values/EVnK3q48dL0C?hl=en&gbpv=1|title=Indian Epic Values: Ramayana and Its Impact : Proceedings of the 8th International Rāmāyaṇa Conference.|publisher=Peeters Pub & Booksellers|year=1995|isbn=9068317016|pages=75}}</ref>Some stories also say that This warrior  community travelled along with Bimba raja to Northern part of Konkan and settled there.

According to Agri customs, marriages usually take place in the Hindu months of [[Agrahayana|Kartik, Margashirsh]] (November - December) and [[Vaisakh]] (April - May). Marriage ceremony begins with an engagement ceremony known as [[Sakharpuda]] which includes as many as forty rites that are performed under the supervision of a female priestess known as Dhavalarini. Each ritual is accompanied by a ritual song known as Dhavale. A Brahmin priest is invited for conducting only four rituals, the establishment of the Mandap Devata, Grahamak (Goddess of Pandal) and main wedding (mangal Ashtak ,kanyadan, lajjahome and Satyanarayan Puja. The newly married bride goes to live with her husband and his family after a procession called Vavsa. After the first child is born, the new mother is welcomed back to her home with great pomp and later takes part in a ceremony called Panvet.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pathak|first=Arunchandra|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/land_and_people/Index.html|title=Maharashtra - Land and its People|last2=Kulkarni|first2=Anand|publisher=Maharashtra State Gazetteers|year=1968|pages=32}}</ref>

Agris mainly worship deities such as [[Ganesha]], Surya, [[Vishnu]], [[Shiva]], [[Lakshmi]] and [[Hanuman]], as well as local deities such as [[Vithoba]], [[Khandoba]], [[Dhak Bahiri|Bahiri]], [[Bhavani]] and [[Veer Mhaskoba|Mhasoba]]. They celebrate festivals such as [[Ganesh Chaturthi]], [[Holi]] and [[Diwali]]. They prepare special sweets for such festivals and engage in vibrant dances. The traditional clothing of the Agris consist of [[dhoti]] and shirt for men and nineyard [[sari]] for women. Although the Agris generally consume meat, their diet also includes dal, rice and bhakri. They read religious texts such as the [[Pandav Pratap|Pandavpratap]], [[Dnyaneshwari]], [[Haripath]] and [[RamVijaya|Ramvijay]]. Many of the older generations read such devotional literature on a daily basis in the morning hours.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pathak|first=Arunchandra|url=https://gazetteers.maharashtra.gov.in/cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/land_and_people/Index.html|title=Maharashtra - Land and its People|last2=Kulkarni|first2=Anand|publisher=Maharashtra State Gazetteers|year=1968|pages=33}}</ref>