Samipya 1992 Vol 09 Ank 01 02

Author(s): Pravinchandra C Parikh, Bhartiben Shelat
Publisher: Bholabhai Jeshingbhai Adhyayan Sanshodhan Vidyabhavan

Page 86

their day-to-day affairs and trading occupation. Suppose the daughter-in-law is carrying the hand lorry of fruits and vegetables and her father-in-law happens to come there, either of them take turn and thereby honour elders. Elders, too, manage somehow not to come in their way or come face to face.
Further it is learnt that the son-in-law has to observe the strict rules of discipline in the house of his father-in-law. Even if the father-in-law is illiterate and the son-in-law is highly qualified and of higher status he is supposed to stand before his father-in-law. He is not supposed to take seat on chair of his oun accord unless he is asked to do so by his father-in-law.
Further all family customs are observed by the women.
The commonest characteristic of their family structure is 'disorganized one or Mismanagement and foresight of suving money is lacking for which there must be some unknown reasons which need to be investigated.
Tradition of frequent divorces adversely affects both the family life as well as the future of the children.
Social Status
Vagharis have no cordial relations with any community either belong to the lower caste or the higher caste except those of the cattle breeders viz. Bharwad, Rabaris, Charans. It is only because that all these communities are the worshippers of various Goddesses (deities) know as 64 Jogais. These Joguts except two or three do not fall under the deiuties prescribed in the Vedas and Purāņas.
Vagharis are traditionally 'drum beaters and 'dakla' beaters at the time of worshipping those Goddesses, at the time of offering animal sacrifice and performing other religious rituals. This is one of the reasons why there is some harmony and cordial relations maintained amongst all these communities. Whereas in the rest of the fields they do not intenmingle with one another. On the contrary, Vagharis are condemned by almost all the categories of higher as well as lower castes since ages. It is not known why this hatredness his developed against this community. The 'Vaghari,' the vary word creates the concept of uncultured and uncivilized person. That if why it is used to condemn the persons and also, for abusing or pulling down others. In fact, now, it has become a colloquail word used to degrade degrade others socially. Thus the social status of Vagharis is very deteriorative as compared to the lower caste people, though they are not treated as untouchables. There is no objection in carrying out any deal or trade with them. They are not discarded by any customs by any class or caste of Gujarat.
Vagharis of Gujarat: An Ancient Tribe]
[31