Agrahari Sikh

For Hindu Vaishya community, see Agrahari.

Agrahari Sikh is a Sikh community found in eastern India including state West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. Agrahari Sikhs, also known as Bihari Sikhs, have lived for centuries in Bihar and Jharkhand.[1][2][3]

Origin

Agrahari Sikhs claim descent from the solar dynasty king Agrasen of Agroha, a city near Kurukshetra in Hisar district of Haryana, who is said to have ruled in North India during the period of Mahabharat epic era.

History

During the Mughal period, Mughal empire enforced to Hindu to convert their religion to Islam. At the same time, some Agrawals converted to Muslim, but Agrahari were not agree to convert their religion and they went in favor of Guru Tegh Bahadur, ninth Guru of Sikhs who was enemy of Mughal Empire, struggling to fight with them. In the presence of Guru Tegh Bahadu Singh, Agraharis adopted Khalsa for protecting their life and religion.

Agrahari Sikh settled in Sasaram, Gaya, Kolkata, Dumari(Hunterganj), Kedli chatti (jharkhand) and other place of Bihar and West Bengal. Agrahari Sikhs not only came eastwards of India, they are also present in some part of Uttar Pradesh.[4]

Culture and religion

With the help of Local Gurudwara committee of Agrahari Sikh, they are initiated Gurumukhi classes where Gurbani, Sikh history, Kirtan and Gurumukhi is taught regularly to the children of Agrahari Sikh. they truly follow Sikhism, some Agrahari Sikh used to keep Kirpan with themselves and not cut their hair. Agrahari Sikh have many social relation with Punjabi speaking Sikhs. They have separate Gurudwaras.[5] Agrahari Sikh belong to upper cast, living in various different places such as In jharkhand State- Dumari Kalan, Kedli chati, Hunterganj, Chatra town, Ramgarh,Dhanbad, Ranchi, jamshedpur,Garhwa,Daltonganj.they have been living since many centuries in Dumari Kalan & kedli chatti(Hunterganj) in jharkhand state.they even managing two gurudwaras,one is situated in Dumari Kalan other is in kedli chatti Place. Also they participate all rituals and procession as on Shri Gurugranth Sahib Ji . Agrahari Sikh have presence in Sasaram, Dehri, Patna, Kathihar,Gaya in Bihar state. Gurudwara also in Sasaram,Patna and Gaya managed by Agrahari Sikh . Few Agrahari Sikh having presence in Dudhi-Nagar, Renukoot, Ahraura, Robertsganj, Mewarpur in Sonbhadra District in UP, India.

They do marriage in both Hindu Agrahari as well as Sikh Agrahari, Seen also do marriage in Arora, Ahuwalia, Khatri (Upper cateogery )in Sikh Family. Many Agrahari Sikh in New Delhi, Faridabad, Kanpur, Noida, Sahiababd, Jaipur,Varanasi Kolkata, Asansol, Gaya,Sasaram, Dehri. Also Agrahari Sikh, they well settled in USA, Australia, UK, and Europe & Gulf.

References

  1. ↑ "Sikhs and Sikhism in Eastern and North-Eastern India". Institute of Sikh Studies.
  2. ↑ "The Lost Tribes of The Sikhs". Sikh Chic. October 18, 2011.
  3. ↑ "IOSS Seminar 2009: A Report". Institute of Sikh Studies.
  4. ↑ "The identity of North-East Sikhs". Himadri Banerjee. August 24, 2003.
  5. ↑ "The Development of Sikh Tribes in India". Sikh Net. March 23, 2012.
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