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Sodha Rajput migrations to Kutch started in 1971 after the Indo-Pak war. Originating from Thar Parkar in east Sindh, Pakistan they had relatives in Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Kutch, hence, they settled here and have led a contended life in Kutch. There are 32 Sodha villages in Kutch about 25,000 members of the group with 4,000 artisans among them.
Sodha Rajput who moved from Sindh, Pakistan, to Kutch live
in the Jhura Camp that is well laid out, neat and spotlessly clean. Sodha
women are secluded in this village, nestled into a small mountain chain,
north of Bhuj.
The Sodhas lead a simple life with no luxuries. Some are not even
addicted to beverages like tea and some men usually have only lunch and
dinner prepared at home. Fluent in Kutchi, Gujarati, Hindi, they blend
well with the local people. They also know Marwari and Thari Sodha
language of their earlier homeland. Some even write poetry in Gujarat.
Sodha
culture has been preserved through the circular 'Bhungas' that the
community still uses. They are mostly vegetarian. Their staple diet is
bajra or Gheo Chaptis and Khichadi. The women are pure vegetarians but
some of the men have now started taking non-vegetarian food outside the
house. The 'Otara' where the men sit together for meetings or to entertain
guests is where they are allowed to eat non-vegetarian food, not inside
the house.
The men wear a white 'Adita', like a Dhoti, white Khameez (shirt) and turban wrapped around the head with a long tassel hanging on the neck. Women wear Ghaghra Kurta and Odhni or 'Kanjri Kurti' and Odhni.
Sodha Rajputs take pride in their embroidery work. Women do
split chain stitch with 'Dano' stitch and use small mirrors. Shrujan
commissions work from the Sodhas in Loria and Jhura, as well as 'Nen' work
of Nirona.
Sodha women embroider folk games, like Chopat, for their trousseau. Their
embroidery is found in Loriya, Jhura, Bibbar, Godhjar, Chhari, Sumrasar
Shekh, and Faradi. 'Soof' embroidery is done by Sodha women in villages of
Jhura, Suraser Pragpur, and bordering villages of Banaskantha district in
Bhabhar. It is also called "Sodha Bharat".
Women
wear Durgal circular lobe earrings, Nath and bangles. Young girls wear
disca earrings and older girls wear a ring earring with hanging stone
pendant and Discas in gold. Ornaments of married women are quite exquisite
in their looks such as Panadi gold earrings that are leaf-shaped, Nimbodi
gold pendant with green and orange Agates and green beads and tassles,
Durgala round earrings and Dano Nath in gold with diamonds, also a solid
silver flat Kadi with opening adorned with etchings.
Sodha Rajput brides cover their faces and visit sacred spots in their new village on the day after the wedding. A cloth is tied to the turbaned groom who precedes her. The handmade embroidery items in her trousseau are her calling card in her new home. Sodha women and other communities on festivals such as Diwali or Gokulashtmi prepare Gariyu Alekh drawings in the center of the village. Old plaster is removed from the walls and a fresh coat is laid on. When dried, Alekh is done on the walls in colourful designs of Torans and decorations in wall recesses.
Sodha believe in Pithora Pir, a saint whose temple can be
seen in all Sodha villages, and hold an annual festival in his honour, and
also in Satya Mataji. They celebrate Diwali, Holi, Satam Atam and other
Hindu festivals. The victory of good over evil is symbolically expressed
in celebration of Dussera (also spelt as Dusshera) and is celebrated by
Brahmin, Kshatirya, Vaishya and Shudra Hindus. Earlier a festival of the
farming community, it has subsequently turned into a Kshatriya festival.
Agricultural and artisan communities worship Lord Rama, Krishna, Sachiya
Mataji or Mother Goddess in her numerous forms. The Sodha Rajput caste
blends Hindu and Muslim cultures and some religious practices.