The Bhandari is a caste that inhabits the western coast of India. Their traditional occupation was "toddy tapping". They were also good naval warriors. They form the largest caste group in the state of Goa, reportedly being over 30% of that state's Hindu population, and play a major role in deciding the future of any political party there. The Bhandaris are included in the Other Backward Class (OBC) list in Goa and Maharashtra. However, in Uttarakhand, Bhandaris are recognized as part of the Rajput community, tracing their lineage back to the reign of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Known for their valor, leadership, and warrior spirit, the Bhandari Rajputs have historically played a significant role in governance, administration, and military affairs. Their rich heritage reflects a legacy of bravery, honor, and dedication to their land and people.
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Bhandari caste in the context of Maratha (caste)
The Maratha caste is composed of 96 clans, originally formed in the earlier centuries from the amalgamation of families from the peasant (Kunbi), shepherd (Dhangar), blacksmith (Lohar), pastoral (Gavli), carpenter (Sutar), Bhandari, Thakar and Koli castes in Maharashtra. Many of them took to military service in the 16th century for the Deccan sultanates or the Mughals. Later in the 17th and 18th centuries, they served in the armies of the Maratha Kingdom, founded by Shivaji, a Maratha Kunbi by caste. Many Marathas were granted hereditary fiefs by the Sultanates, and Mughals for their service.
According to the Maharashtrian historian B. R. Sunthankar, and scholars such as Rajendra Vora, the "Marathas" are a "middle-peasantry" caste which formed the bulk of the Maharashtrian society together with the other Kunbi peasant caste. Vora adds that the Marathas account for around 30 per cent of the total population of the state and dominate the power structure in Maharashtra because of their numerical strength, especially in the rural society.