TheKabaria, sometimes pronounced as Kabariya, are a Muslim community found in the state ofUttar Pradesh in India, mainly in theAwadh region. A small number of Kabaria are also found in theTerai region ofNepal.[1]
The Kabaria are strictlyendogamous, and practice both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages. They speak theAwadhi dialect, although mostLucknow Kabaria speak reasonableUrdu, and belong to theSunni sect. Like other Indian Muslimcastes, they have informal caste council, referred to as apanchayat. The panchayat acts as an instrument of social control, resolving intra community disputes, and punishing community members who transcend cultural norms. Each Kabaria settlement contains its own panchayat, but unlike other communities, they have not set a formal caste association.[1]