Mythologies of the Kanwar Tribe


Kanwar or Kawar is a tribal community found in central India, mainly in the state of Chhattisgarh, with significant populations in neighbouring areas of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Kanwar believe that the term Kanwar is derived from Kaurava, the ruling clan in the Mahabharata and state that they are descendants of a Kaurava. According to Trivedi (1971), the term Kanwar appears to be a corruption of the word Kaurava and refers to trusted soldiers of the Haihaiyavanshi chiefs of Ratanpur. Hewitt (1869) considered them to be imperfect Rajputs who settled the hills of the Vindhya range and failed to become Hindu like other war-like immigrants Kanwar speak Chhattisgarhi and Sadri. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. They are widespread throughout Chhattisgarh excluding Bastar division, Gondiya and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra, and Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, as well as districts of Sindh and Punjab. The Kanwar are landowning cultivators. As a secondary occupation they work as laborers. They select a person to head the community council of several villages. That leader is assisted by elderly members of the community, and his council looks after the social order of the community. They worship many gods including Dulha deo, Bahan Deo, Thakur Deo, Shikar Deo and goddesses including Sagai Devi, Matin Devi, Banjari Devi etc. Kanwar have eight endogamous division- Tanwar, Kamalbansi, Paikara, Dudh Kanwar, Rathia, Chanti, Cherwa and Rautia. Of these Cherwa, Rathia and Tanwar have been included in Schedule Tribe list. They are patrilineal, patriarchal and patrilocal. Kanwars have a large number of exogamous totemic septs which are named after plants and animals. Some totemic septs are Baghwa (tiger), Chita (leopard), Bilwa (wild cat), Bokar (goat), Bichhi (scorpion), Bhainsa (buffalo) and Sua (parrot). Other septs include Adila, Bhandari, Chandrama (moon), Chanwar (a whisk), Champa (plumeria flower), Chua(well), Daharia, Dhanguru, Dhenki (Pounding-lever), Darpan (a mirror), Fulbandhia, Gobra (dung beetle), Hudra (wolf), Kothi (a store-house), Khumri(A leaf- umbrella), Lodha(a wild dog), Gonga Cochar, Sanwami, Manjhi, Nahna, Samund, Kodia Dudh, Son Pakhar and Sikuta. The proposal for a match comes from the boy's father rather than the girls. After selecting a suitable bride, the groom's family sends a party to the bride's family saying the groom would like to have a cup of pej (rice-water) from them. If the girl's family makes pej, the proposal is approved. During the betrothal ceremony, when the boy’s party go to the girl’s house with a present of bangles, clothes, and fried cakes of rice and Urad carried by a Kaurai Rawat. They also take suk, the bride-price, along with goats to be eaten during the wedding. For the marriage they put on special dress, which is passed down for generations. The marriage is done when the bride and groom walk together 6 times around a pole in the girl's house. Afterwards the parents of the girl wash the couple's feet with milk. They then go to the groom's house and repeat the same procedure there. On the following day the couple go and bathe in a tank, where each throws five pots of water over the other. And on their return the bridegroom shoots arrows at seven straw images of deer over his wife’s shoulder, and after each shot she puts a little sugar in his mouth. This is to indicate he will support his family through hunting. On the fourth day, the bride returns to her old home to play the game of Gauri with younger girls. After 3 months of this, she goes to her husband's house.


Kanwar or Kawar (meaning "crown prince") is a surname of Rajputana, Nepalese and Indian individuals who are members of the Rajput and Jat caste. Kanwar also refers to a tribal community found in central India and Pakistan, mainly in the state of Chhattisgarh, with significant populations in neighboring parts of India and Pakistan. Kanwar believe that the term Kanwar is derived from Kaurava, the ruling clan in the Mahabharata and state that they are descendants of a Kaurava. According to Trivedi (1971), the term Kanwar appears to be a corruption of the word Kaurava and refers to trusted soldiers of the Haihaiyavanshi chiefs of Ratanpur. Hewitt (1869) considered them to be imperfect Rajputs who settled the hills of the Vindhya range and failed to become Hindu like other war-like immigrants. Kanwar speak Chhattisgarhi and Sadri. They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.[10][11] They are widespread throughout Chhattisgarh excluding Bastar division, Gondiya and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra, and Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, districts Of Sindh and Panjab.The Kanwar are landowning cultivators. As a secondary occupation they work as laborers. They select a person to head the community council of several villages. That leader is assisted by elderly members of the community, and his council looks after the social order of the community. They worship many gods including Dulha deo, Bahan Deo, Thakur Deo, Shikar Deo and goddesses including Sagai Devi, Matin Devi, Banjari Devi etc. Kanwar have eight endogamous division- Tanwar, Kamalbansi, Paikara, Dudh Kanwar, Rathia, Chanti, Cherwa and Rautia. Of these Cherwa, Rathia and Tanwar have been included in Schedule Tribe list. They are patrilineal, patriarchal and patrilocal. Kanwars have a large number of exogamous totemic septs which are named after plants and animals. Some totemic septs are Baghwa (tiger), Chita (leopard), Bilwa (wild cat) , Bokar (goat), Bichhi (scorpion), Bhainsa (buffalo) and Sua (parrot). Other septs include Adila, Bhandari, Chandrama (moon), Chanwar (a whisk), Champa (plumeria flower), Chua(well), Daharia, Dhanguru, Dhenki (Pounding-lever), Darpan (a mirror), Fulbandhia, Gobra (dung beetle), Hudra (wolf), Kothi (a store-house), Khumri(A leaf- umbrella), Lodha(a wild dog), Gonga Cochar, Sanwami, Manjhi, Nahna, Samund, Kodia Dudh, Son Pakhar and Sikuta. The proposal for a match comes from the boy's father rather than the girls. After selecting a suitable bride, the groom's family sends a party to the bride's family saying the groom would like to have a cup of pej (rice-water) from them. If the girl's family makes pej, the proposal is approved. During the betrothal ceremony, when the boy’s party go to the girl’s house with a present of bangles, clothes, and fried cakes of rice and Urad carried by a Kaurai Rawat. They also take suk, the bride-price, along with goats to be eaten during the wedding. For the marriage they put on special dress, which is passed down for generations. The marriage is done when the bride and groom walk together 6 times around a pole in the girl's house. Afterwards the parents of the girl wash the couple's feet with milk. They then go to the groom's house and repeat the same procedure there. On the following day the couple go and bathe in a tank, where each throws five pots of water over the other. And on their return the bridegroom shoots arrows at seven straw images of deer over his wife’s shoulder, and after each shot she puts a little sugar in his mouth. This is to indicate he will support his family through hunting. On the fourth day, the bride returns to her old home to play the game of Gauri with younger girls. After 3 months of this, she goes to her husband's house.


Kanwar in Jharkhand, in the category of Scheduled Tribes, at 31st place, 2003. Was incorporated under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe Order (Amendment) Act, 2002, published in the India Gazette on January 8, 2008 by the Ministry of Law, New Delhi, New Delhi. Accordingly, Coal was included in the form of 32 B Scheduled Tribes. Kanwar, residing in Jharkhand, is essentially a part of Kanwar, living in Madhya Pradesh. Still, their population is highest in Madhya Pradesh. According to the census of 1981, their number is 5,62,998 from the state of Madhya Pradesh. I have given this number 5,62,200 in my book, Kumar Suresh. Kanwar explains his euphemism to Mahatmastatta's Kurus. According to one tradition, after two defeats of Kurwa in Mahabharat's war, two pregnant women ran into the hill area north of the Mahanadi, and one shepherd and another took refuge in a Dhobi's house. Here they gave birth to a boy and a girl. They are the only fathers of this tribe. In this way Kanwar is the descendant of the survivors of the Kauravas.Rijile (1891) also described Kanwar as a descendant of the Kauravas and described them. He has described the five subdivisions of Kanwar - Chetia, Cherava, Dua, Paikar and Routia covered. Conservative view of Kanwar has been kept from Proto-Arctralyde Burg. Their skin color, nose width, lips are thick, mouth wide, stiff, short black, straight and rough face-beard. Ladies' height is two and a half times less than men. According to Kumar Suresh, the cover belongs to the Siddar of Chhattisgarh in Madhya Pradesh. They also accept their origin from the Kauravas. Trivedi also considers Kanwar as an abdominal of Kurus. According to him, it was the Nirvanshi king of Ratanpur who was a vinvasi sainik. There is a large tribe which is found mainly in Raigad Sarguja, Raipur, Rajanandergong. Jharkhand is covered in its south western border districts like Gumla, Simadega and Palamu. According to the 2001 census, the total number is 10000. Dumri, Chanpur and Kurdeg block, I have a concentration of them. Their villages are inhabited in the wild-mountain areas. Simadega - From the Kuradeg to Gumla or the middle of the road going to the central message, they also get scattered villages. About 1356 families of Kanwar in Gumla, Simdega and Palapu districts were scattered. The population is above 10,000. Kanwar met - living in different villages along with other people in Jule Gow. Which is called Kanwar Tola. They still have more contact with Orissa since Kanvar is also found in Orissa. According to the census of 1981, there are 8549 in Orissa and 20231 in Maharashtra. Kanwar has already been placed in Scheduled Tribes category in Orissa and Madhya Pradesh. But in Bihar, these backward castes have been listed in Annex. Now in Jharkhand, this Anu has been consolidated in the list of Scheduled Tribes. Their homes are made of clay. The roof is of tile or pallet. In the house there are two rooms. The verandah also happens. There is a door, but it does not have any kind of rubbish or rosary. Someone has a big house The goods in the house are very low and simple. Barkatan is found in single cot, pedestrian, matia, mat, fenugreek or aluminum. Some steel utensils are also available. Arrows are bows for hunting, but there are no skilled hunters. To kill the machali, the Kumani or the small traps also get to see in the houses. Spade, pink, broom, soup, basket, ganti, hoof etc. are mainly home appliances.


Kanwar believe that the term Kanwar have derived from Kauravas, the ruling clan of Mahabharata and state that they are descendants of one of the Kauravas. According to Trivedi (1971), the term Kanwar appears corruption of the Kauravas who were trusted soldiers of the Haihaiyavanshi chiefs of Ratanpur.[10] Hewitt (1869), considered them imperfect Rajputs, who settled in early times among the hills of Vindhya ranges and failed in becoming Hinduised like other war-like immigrants.[7] Kanwar speak Chhattisgarhi and Sadri. They are listed as Scheduled Tribe in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.[12][13] They are widespread throughout Chhattisgarh excluding Bastar division, Gondiya and Gadchiroli districts of Maharashtra, and Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh. The Kanwar are landowning cultivators. As a subsidiary occupation they work as a labourer. They select a person to head the community council of several villages. He is assisted by elderly members of the community. The council looks after the social order of the community. They worship many gods including Dulha deo, Bahan Deo, Thakur Deo, Shikar Deo and goddesses including Sagai Devi, Matin Devi, Banjari Devi etc. Kanwar have eight endogamous division- Tanwar, Kamalbansi, Paikara, Dudh Kanwar, Rathia, Chanti, Cherwa and Rautia. Of these Cherwa, Rathia and Tanwar have been included in Schedule Tribe list. They are patrilineal, patriarchal and patrilocal. Kanwar have large number of exogamous totemic septs which are named after plants and animals. Some totemic septs are Baghwa (tiger), Chita (leopard), Bilwa (wild cat) , Bokar (goat), Bichhi (scorpion), Bhainsa (buffalo) and Sua (parrot). Other septs include Adila, Bhandari, Chandrama (moon), Chanwar (a whisk), Champa (plumeria flower), Chua(well), Daharia, Dhanguru, Dhenki (Pounding-lever), Darpan (a mirror), Fulbandhia, Gobra (dung beetle), Hudra (wolf), Kothi (a store-house), Khumri(A leaf- umbrella), Lodha(a wild dog), Gonga Cochar, Sanwami, Manjhi, Nahna, Samund, Kodia Dudh, Son Pakhar and Sikuta. The proposal for a match comes from the boy's father rather than the girls. After selecting a suitable bride, the groom's family sends a party to the bride's family saying the groom would like to have a cup of pej (rice-water) from them, what do they say? If the girl's family makes pej, the proposal is approved. During the betrothal ceremony, when the boy’s party go to the girl’s house with a present of bangles, clothes, and fried cakes of rice and urad carried by a Kaurai Rawat. They also take suk, the bride-price, along with goats to be eaten during the wedding. For the marriage they put on special dress, which is passed down for generations. The marriage is done when the bride and groom walk together 6 times around a pole in the girl's house. Afterwards the parents of the girl wash the couple's feet with milk. They then go to the groom's house and repeat the same procedure there. On the following day the couple go and bathe in a tank, where each throws five pots of water over the other. And on their return the bridegroom shoots arrows at seven straw images of deer over his wife’s shoulder, and after each shot she puts a little sugar in his mouth. This is to indicate he will support his family through hunting. On the fourth day, the bride returns to her old home to play the game of Gauri with younger girls. After 3 months of this, she goes to her husband's house.


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