Who are the Kutchi?

Well, I am one of this tribe, and am proud to be one. Read on for knowing a bit more about the little known facts about Kutchies!

Language

The Kutchi language is classified as an Indo-Aryan language. As the Kutchi people have often been travelers and traders, the Kutchi language has influences of almost every surrounding dialect, and is thus very difficult to learn and translate. Much like English is a mixture of French and German—with traces of just about everything else—Kutchi is technically a dialect of Sindhi (an official language in both India and Pakistan), but is heavily influenced by Gujarati, so much so that when written it uses the traditional Gujarati script.

Due to their geographical closeness, most Kutchi people are either bilingual or trilingual. Those living in Pakistan typically speak and understand Sindhi or Urdu, while Kutchis of India also speak Gujarati and possibly a dialect of Hindi.

Kutch: the second largest province in India, located in the Northwestern state of Gujarat along the border with Pakistan.

Kutchi: the ancient people group who inhabit the Kutch province, primarily made up of fisherman and artisans. Large populations of Kutchi also live in Africa and Pakistan.

One People – Two Continents

As sea traders, the Kutchi built cities along the trading routes of the Arabian Sea, even as far as East Africa where they established homes 200-300 years ago. Today, these two “halves” of the people group hold to their ancient culture in very different environments.

Culture

The first thing most visitors notice about the Kutchi people is color! As many are artisans and craftsmen, Kutchi women wear elaborately designed clothes made by a unique method of tie-dying fabrics. This process creates a sunburst pattern of intensely bright colors. Beyond clothing, this sort of design is also used to make elaborate embroideries used as tablecloths, wall hangings, handbags, bedspreads and more.

Religion

The major religions of the Kutchi people are Hindu and Islam. As the Kutchi people are split between India, Pakistan and Africa, most of their religious affiliation is often dictated by their location. Most of the Kutchi in India are Hindu, most of those in Pakistan are Muslim, and those that have spread throughout Africa and beyond have either retained the religion of their family or have converted to conform to the place where they now live.

Celebrations

In the Kutchi tradition, almost every phase of the moon is acknowledged by either a celebration, fast, or other sort of ritual. Similarly, every day of the year is attributed to a particular god or goddess. Some days are considered fortunate or lucky, while others carry with them a sense of evil and are thought to result in unfavorable events depending on what is foretold by the Paanchaang, a sort of almanac.

Ashadi Beej (mid-July) Today i.e. 13th July 2010. [not necessarily same date every year]

This is the celebration of the New Year. According to the traditional Kutchi calendar, known as the Halari Samwat, the New Year begins on the first day of the monsoon season, typically in mid-July. This day is celebrated with much joy and color, and typically involves songs by Kutchi poets that have been written to welcome the rains.

Fair of Mota Yaksh (Sept. 15)

This is the largest festival in Kutch, lasting for three days. Legend claims that angels came to the Kutchi people and taught them the principle artisan skills that form the basis of their culture. It’s held each year 40 km south of Bhuj, at the site of the temple that marks the angels’ coming.

Diet

A majority of Kutchi are strict vegetarians, due significantly to the large Hindu population. Some of the Christian and Muslim populations eat poultry and fish, but the consumption of beef is prohibited due to the Hindu culture and pork is scarcely available to appease the Muslim population. Alcohol in the region has been prohibited in modern times, as the entire state of Gujarat is legally dry to honor it as the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi.

Milk is considered to be a sacred food, offered to guests in order to honor and welcome them. Also, many legal and social agreements are concluded by drinking milk together—including financial transactions, dispute arbitration, and sealing the engagement of a bride and groom.

Economy
Most Kutchi are quite poor, but those living in India have benefited by being in the state of Gujarat, one of the country’s fastest growing state economies. Historically, the major industries of the Kutchi people have been fishing, sea trade, crafts, and farming. Increased Urban Migration has seen many Kutchies moving on to Urban developments, where they have set up themselves as tradesmen, Grocery Store Owners, Garment Trade, textile business, Oil merchants, etc. Sea trade has diminished significantly as a source of income; however, many Kutchi have opened up small trucking fleets & logistics companies, thus continue on in the shipping tradition of their ancestors.

Handicrafts are still very important, with much of the world’s fine embroidery still being made in rural areas throughout the Kutchi region. A few corporations organize the worldwide trade of these handmade goods, but unfortunately few of the profits remain in the region.

Well, thats about it, thanks for reading on till here. Traditionally, every Kutchi you encounter, would sign off by the following line...
|| Jai Dhariyalaal | Jai Jalaram ||

more reading on following links...
http://ren-flora.livejournal.com/71357.html
Wikipedia on Kutch...
Panjo Kutch
India Tourism Board Site

Learn Kutchi Embroidery using You tube...
Kutchi Embroidery



Any more info that can be added here, please suggest by commenting, will try adding to this article. Thanks for dropping by.