पटवा वैश्य-PATWA VAISHYA

The Patwa are a Hindu Vaishya community, found mainly in North India, who are traditional weavers and jewellery business and thread workers.

History

According to the traditions of the Patwa, they descend from a deota (a Hindu god). The Patwa have many sub-groups, the Deovanshi,Deval, Raghuvanshi and Kanaujia. They fall under vaish (Baniya) category. The Patwa are an endogamous community, and follow the principle of gotra exogamy.Maheshvari is also patwa falled in baniya category They are Hindu, and worship the goddess Bhagwati. Like other Hindu artisan castes, the Patwa have a traditional caste council, which is involved in settling issues of divorce, minor disputes and cases of adultery.

Present Circumstances 

The Patwa are involved in selling women's decorative articles like earrings, necklaces and cosmetics. They also deal in small household items, such as hand fans made of palm. The community was traditionally associated with threading of beads and binding together of silver and gold occupation, while others have expanded into other businesses. They are found ALL OVER INDIA, mainly in delhi, M.P,in madhya predesh patwa and lakhera is also not same lakhera is a other cast they not belong to patwa cast. Maharastra, Uttar Pradesh, in the districts of Bareilly, Badaun, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Jalaun, Shahjahanpur, Sitapur, Lakhimpur-kheri, Lucknow, Jhansi and Lalitpur. a all india patwa mahasabha is also work for patwa samaj.

In Bihar, the community is sub-divided as Patwa and Tantu Patwa. Tantu patwa is another caste they do not belong to Patwa caste. The Patwas are mainly weavers and braid makers. The Tantu Patwa have three sub-groups, the Gouria, Rewar and Jurihar. The Tantu patwa are found mainly in the districts of Nalanda, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Nawada and Patna districts. There main gotras include the Gorahia, Chero, Ghatwar, Chakata, Supait, Bhor, Pancohia, Dargohi, Laheda and Rankut and the patwa are found all over Bihar. The Patwa of Bihar are now mainly power loom operators, while others have expanded into other businesses. They are a fairly successful community, and many have taken to modern education. The Patwa of Bihar have a state wide caste association, the Patwa Jati Sudhar Samiti.

साभार : सुरेश चन्द्र पटवा जी.