Gangaputra Brahmin

Gangaputra Brahmins

Photo of a Gangaputra Brahmin in 1875, J Forbes Watson
Regions with significant populations
India
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
Kanyakubja Brahmins

Gangaputra Brahmin applying tilak to a pilgrim

The Gangaputra Brahman are a Hindu Brahmin community, found in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India.^[1][2]

History and origin

The community is an offshoot of the Kanyakubja Brahmins. Gangaputra in Sanskrit signifies sons of the Ganges river.^[3][4] The Gangaputra are associated with the river Ganges, and their communities are located mainly along the banks of the river. These people were also known as the Ghatiya, because they occupied the piers of the Ganges; ghat in Hindi signifies pier.^[5]

The Gangaputra Brahmin are found mainly in the Farrukhabad, Kanpur and Shahjahanpur districts. Their main occupation is to officiate at the various holy occasions which occur along the river.^[6]

References

1. People of India Uttar Pradesh, Vol. XLII Part 2. A Hasan & J C Das, eds. pp. 506-508
2. "A blunt reminder". 15 August 2019.
3. Singh, Kumar Suresh (1992). People of India: Uttar Pradesh (3 pts.). Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-85579-09-2.
4. Hasan, Amir; Das, J. C.; Rizvi, Baqr Raza (2004). People of India: The Communities: Gaddi-Muslim Teli. Anthropological Survey of India. ISBN 978-81-7304-114-3.
5. People of India Uttar Pradesh, Vol. XLII Part 2. A Hasan & J C Das, eds. p. 506
6. People of India Uttar Pradesh, Vol. XLII Part 2. A Hasan & J C Das, eds. p. 507