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Kapadi

Kapadi, also known as Kapdi is a small community found in Gujarat in India. They are chiefly found in Kutch and Dadra and Nagar Haveli areas of Gujarat[1][2]

History

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The Kapdi Sampradaya claim to be descendants of Raja Raghu who is an ancestor of Lord Rama, the guide of the Hindu deity Rama, Rama's army as they marched through the desert to Hinglaj.[3]

This dress was given by Rama to one Laljusraj, who accompanied him on the trip. Laljusraj is said to be the founder of the Kapdi sect in Hinglaj. It is believed that it is the same dress, that is preserved at Mekan Dada Temple at Dhrang.[4]

They worship Ashapura Mata and make visit the Hinglaj Mata mandir in Balochistan, Pakistan.[5] In India, they visit Hinglaj Mata Mandir at Gandevi and Mahalakshmi Temple, Kolhapur[2]

Temple of Shree Jai Raja Kapadi Dada, a saint of Kapadi community, housing his Samadhi at Village Dabada in Kutch. Note mention of Aum and Jee Naam, religious symbol of Kapadi Sampradaya embedded on the main gate written in Gujarati script and deep saffron color.

The Kapdis consider Mekan Dada to be an incarnation of Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama, and he visited the site of Hinglaj at the end of the 17th century. The Kapadis consider anyone who performs the pilgrimage to Hinglaj to be Kapdi as well.[3]

Historically their traditional occupation was of Gotrej , however, they are in present days earn mainly their livelihood from farming, grocery stores and small time traders.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Schaflechner, Jürgen (2018). Hinglaj Devi. Oxford University Press. p. 67.
  2. ^ a b c People of India - Volume 30, Issue 2 by Kumar Suresh Singh. Anthropological Survey of India, 2004. p. 957. Retrieved 22 August 2025. KAPADI / KAPADIA A lesser - known community reported from Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Kapadi of Gujarat . Agriculture and trade in grocery are the primary as well as the traditional occupations of Gotrej. Hinglaj Devi as their community deity , and Ganpati as their village deity. Hinglaj Devi temple in Gandevi in Gujarat and. Mahalakshmi temple in Maharashtra are their major centres of pilgrimage
  3. ^ a b Schaflechner 2018, p. 67-68.
  4. ^ [1] Kutch in festival and custom By K. S. Dilipsinh
  5. ^ Schaflechner 2018, p. 67.