Anderkoti, Koti or Kotiyan (Urdu; اندر کوٹی )is a Muslim community mainly known for Haidos a ritual only performed by Anderkoti in festival of Muharram and Looting of deg in Dargah of Ajmer.[1][2] They are hereditary inhabitants of Indarkot, a region in Ajmer and predominantly found in India and Pakistan.[3]
History
In the old part of Ajmer, there is a locality known for its exceptional cultures and rituals, The Anderkotis. they are Muslim of different castes and clans. Businessman, Moneylenders and wealthy people hire them as bodyguard for their fearlessness.[4] In the past When the langar 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 to empty the cauldron. The custom of "looting of deg" is very ancient but no accounts of its origin can be given.[5] however now this practice has been discontinued.[6]
In the Moharram month of Islamic calendar the Anderkotis do a ritual with their sharp swords known as "Haidos or Haydos ". After the Partition Anderkoti people who migrated to Pakistan started this tradition in the Hyderabad's, Khata Chowk area and still continued.[7] It is mentioned as 'The Swords of play ' in Rajputana District Gazette.[8] hundred men perform this and 100 Swords are given by Ajmer Administration.[9]
References
- ↑ "Almost Seventy People Badly Injured in Haidos" (in hindi). 2 October 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ "Tradition of Looting Deg is Quite Interesting". 21 May 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ↑ "The Sword of Play : पाकिस्तान ने अपनाई अजमेर की यह परम्परा". Patrika News (in hindi). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ↑ Gupta, Dr Mohan Lal. The Great History of Ajmer: अजमेर का वृहत् इतिहास (in हिन्दी). Shubhda Prakashan.
- ↑ Rajputana (Agency )., Rajputana (Agency (1904). Rajputana District Gazetteers. New York Public Library. Scottish MissionIndustries Co., Ltd.
- ↑ Faleiro, Sonia (July 23, 2001). "Laxmi Dhaul talks about her photographic travel guide 'The Sufi Saint of Ajmer'". India Today. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ↑ "Hyderabad: 10 Muharram to be observed amid strict security".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Rajputana (Agency )., Rajputana (Agency (1904). Rajputana District Gazetteers. New York Public Library. Scottish MissionIndustries Co., Ltd.
- ↑ "The Sword of Play : पाकिस्तान ने अपनाई अजमेर की यह परम्परा". Patrika News (in hindi). Retrieved 2021-02-23.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)