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Agri Kolis
Agri[1] also spelled as Aagri[2] (Marathi: 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 Indian state of Maharashtra.[3][4] Agari people speak the Agri dialect of the Marathi language which is an oral dialect until the late 20th century.[5] 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 Devi.[2] 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.
आगरी कोळी | |
|---|---|
 Agri Koli Bhavan in Navy Mumbai | |
.jpg) Entrance of Agri Koli Society Bhavan, Mumbai | |
| Languages | |
| Marathi, Hindi, Agri | |
| Religion | |
| Hindu | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mangela Kolis |
Distribution
They mainly reside in places such as Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Nashik, Bhiwandi, Virar and Vasai Gujrat.
Clans
Agri people have several of the Clans, some of them listed here[6]
Etymology
The term Āgri is derived from the Marathi word āgar which is first attested in an inscription located in Nagaon dated to 1289 CE. The term agar has two contextual meanings.[7] On the one hand, it refers to a village where coconut and areca-nut orchards are grown. It also refers to a person who grows coconut and areca-nuts orchards on contract. On the other hand, the term agar also refers to place where salt is produced. The workers at the salt-pits were known as agaris. They were also known by names such as Kharki, Kharpate and Agare Kunbi. So the term Agri may be related to the practice of growing orchards or the salt production business.[8][9]
History
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 scholar who was well-versed in the shastras.[10]Some stories also say that This warrior community travelled along with Bimba raja to Northern part of Konkan and settled there.
Society and Culture
According to Agri customs, marriages usually take place in the Hindu months of 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.[11]
Agris mainly worship deities such as Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Shiva, Lakshmi and Hanuman, as well as local deities such as Vithoba, Khandoba, Bahiri, Bhavani and 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 Pandavpratap, Dnyaneshwari, Haripath and Ramvijay. Many of the older generations read such devotional literature on a daily basis in the morning hours.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ Kennedy, Michael (1985). The Criminal Classes in India. India: Mittal Publications. p. 90.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 GURAV, Dr MAHADEV D. A GEOGRAPHICAL STUDY OF FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN PUNE DISTRICT. Lulu.com. ISBN 978-1-387-13602-5.
- ↑ "Navi Mumbai: Agri Koli youths on hunger strike, demand regularisation of homes". The Indian Express. 16 March 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ↑ "Has Agri Koli Bhavan become the new symbol of corruption at CIDCO and injustice to PAPs". NMTV. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
- ↑ Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1957). The Mahadev Kolis. Delhi, India: Popular Book Depot. p. 7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Chand, Faquir; Sinha, N. K. Dadra and Nagar Haveli. India: Popular Prakashan. p. 23. ISBN 978-81-7154-762-3.
- ↑ Molesworth, James Thomas. "A dictionary, Marathi and English". Digital Dictionaries of South Asia.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Pathak, Arunchandra; Kulkarni, Anand (1968). Maharashtra - Land and its People. Maharashtra State Gazetteers. pp. 30, 31.
- ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh (2004). People of India - Maharashtra Part 1. Popular Prakashan. p. 50.
- ↑ Pollet, G (1995). Indian Epic Values: Ramayana and Its Impact : Proceedings of the 8th International Rāmāyaṇa Conference. Peeters Pub & Booksellers. p. 75. ISBN 9068317016.
- ↑ Pathak, Arunchandra; Kulkarni, Anand (1968). Maharashtra - Land and its People. Maharashtra State Gazetteers. p. 32.
- ↑ Pathak, Arunchandra; Kulkarni, Anand (1968). Maharashtra - Land and its People. Maharashtra State Gazetteers. p. 33.
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