Bawaria Hindu Tribe of Cholistan: A Cultural Anthropology

Abstract

Bawaria Hindu Tribe is an ancient nomadic hunter tribe of Cholistan. They are son of the soil whose forefathers were primarily cultivators residing on the banks of the lost river Sarsvati. With the dried up of the river this area was deserted through desertification process and left only grazing land. Cholistan is a cradle of great Indus civilization and the Bawaria of Cholistan are representative of this civilization. Though nationalization has affected their culture. However, they are still staunch follower of their centuries old cultural traditions. Some works are available on Cholistan. However, culture of Cholistani Hindus has been ignored by the Anthropologists and cultural historians. Not a single work is available on Bawaria tribe of Cholistan. The author developed survey instrument to gather information on Bawaria culture. Group discussion and individual Bawaria were interviewed to collect the data. The survey was conducted in Cholistan’s Union Council and Bawaria’s colonies. Total 30 persons were interviewed. Thus this paper is primarily based upon oral history and observations. It deals particularly with cultural anthropology of Bawaria tribe of Cholistan.