 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| • India • Pakistan (Indian subcontinent) | |
| Languages | |
| •Hindi •Gujrati •Urdu •Punjabi | |
| Religion | |
| • Hinduism • Islam | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| •Indians •Shaikh |
Darzi are acaste among both Hindus and Muslims. Darzi are known asIdrisi in the Muslim community.[1]
"Tailoring" is the English translation ofDarzi. In the Indian tradition, it was customary to wrap clothing over the body rather than wear stitched clothes. Used inHindi andUrdu, the word Darzi comes from thePersian language.[2][3]
The wordDarzi (दर्ज़ी درزی) literally means "business oftailor" inHindi andUrdu. The Darzis adopted the nameIdrisi from Idris (Enoch), a Biblical and Koranic prophet. According to their traditions, Idris was the first person to learn the art of sewing. It is said to be derived from thePersian worddarzan, which means "to sew".[citation needed] This is also the commonly accepted derivation of the name of the non-related religion Druze. The Darzi are said to have settled inSouth Asia during the early period of theSultanate of Delhi. They are also divided on a linguistic basis, with those ofNorth India speaking various dialects of Urdu,[4] while those ofPunjab speakingPunjabi.
The Hindu Darzi have various synonyms as well as legends about their community origins. The legends vary according to the Indian states in which they reside.
In the desert state ofRajasthan, the Darzi trace their descent from their legendary heroShri Peepa Ji Maharaj,[5] who later became saint during theBhakti movement in India,[6] who was theGreat Spiritual Scholar ofSwami Ramanada.[7] Swami Ramananda was a 14th centuryVaishnava devotional poet and saint who lived in the Gangetic basin ofNorthern India. Over time, people from this community shifted from their originating place to their place of work to the other cities, and can be found all over India.[8]
The Punjabi Darzi is said to have converted to Islam from theHinduChhimba caste, and have several territorial divisions. These include the Sirhindi, Deswal and Multani. The Punjabi Darzi (Chhimba Darzi) are almost entirelySunni.[9]
The Idrisi ofJharkhand have a common origin with those ofBihar, and intermarry. The community speak the Angika dialect ofHindi. Most Idrisis are still engaged in tailoring, but many Idrisis, particularly inJharkhand, are now farmers. Their customs are similar to otherBihari Muslims.[10]
In Punjab, the Punjabi Darzi are migrants fromEast Punjab. Many in rural areas of Punjab have taken to cultivation, while those in urban areas have opened up small businesses. The Punjabi Darzi claim to belong to theMuslim Rajput community. They are entirelySunni, and many belong to the orthodoxDeobandi sect.[11]
A tailor in Hindi isdarzi and his wife is calleddarzin. A dyer of clothes was termed asrangrez. A washerman was calleddhobi orrajak.