Sapuria

Muslim community in West Bengal, India

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The Sapuria (sometimes pronounced Sanpuria) are a Muslim community found in the state of West Bengal in India, as well as in Bangladesh. They are also known as Bedia Mal and Sanpui.[1]

## Origin

[edit]

The Sapuria are a community whose traditional occupation was snake charming. According to some traditions, they are converts from the Hindu Bedia caste. The Sapuria are said to have gotten their name from the Bengali word for snake which is sanp, and Sapuria literally means snake charmer. They speak a dialect of their own, but most also speak Bengali and are found mainly in the districts of Midnapore, Birbhum, Murshidabad, Howrah, Nadia and 24 Parganas. The Sapuria are also found in Bangladesh.[1]

## Present circumstances

[edit]

There are now two distinct sub-groups among the Sapuria, those who still practice their traditional occupation of snake charming, and a small minority who are now cultivators. Both these groups intermarry, but the community as a whole is endogamous. Many Sapuria are still nomadic, and are often employed by local peasants as snake catchers. There encampments are usually found at the end of villages. The community has a fairly strong caste panchayat, that enforces communal rules and resolves intra-community disputes.[1]

## See also

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* Sapera

## References

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1. ^ a b c Marginal Muslim Communities in India edited by M.K.A Siddiqui pages 385-398

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Indian Muslim communities

Majority|

* Alvi
* Arab
* Arain
* Arghon
* Ansari
* Awan
* Baghban
* Balti
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* Qassab
* Muslim Rajputs
* Garha
* Rangrez
* Shaikh
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* Hussaini Brahmin
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* Teli
* Urdu-speaking

Minority|

* Assamese
* Bengali
* Bhili
* Dogra
* Gondi
* Gujarati
* Konkani
* Nawayath
* Marathi
* Marwari
* Meitei
* Odia
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* Tamil
* Telugu
* Labbay
* Goan Muslims
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Bihari|

* Abdal
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* Bisati
* Chamail
* Churihar
* Chik
* Gaddi
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* Khanzada
* Kulhaiya
* Lal Begi
* Malkana
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* Mirasi
* Mirshikar
* Mughal
* Muker
* Muslim Chhipi
* Pasi
* Nat
* Pathans
* Rayeen
* Sai
* Sapera
* Sayyid
* Syed (Mallick)
* Shaikh of Bihar
* Shershahabadia
* Thakurai
* Teli

Gujarat|

* Abdal
* Alavi Bohras
* Ansari
* Arabs
* Attarwala
* Bafan
* Baloch
* Behlim
* Bhadala
* Bharbhunja
* Bhishti
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* Dhobi
* Dhuldhoya
* Doodwala
* Faqir
* Galiara
* Ghanchi
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* Halaypotra
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* Hingora
* Juneja
* Kadia
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* Ker
* Khalifa
* Khaskheli
* Khoja
* Machiyar
* Makrani
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* Mandali
* Makwana
* Manka
* Mansoori
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* Node
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* Siddi
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* Sunni Bohra
* Tai
* Vora Patel
* Vyapari

Karnataka|

* Baghban
* Beary
* Chaush
* Chhaparband
* Kodava Maaple
* Konkani Muslims
* Nawayath
* Pinjara
* Siddi
* Assadi

Kerala|

* Mappilas
* Pusalans
* Ossans
* Tangals (the Sayyids)
* Vattakkolis (the Bhatkalis) or Navayats
* Labbais
* Nahas
* Marakkars
* Keyis
* Koyas
* Nainars
* Dakhnis or Pathans
* Ravuthars
* Bohras (Daudi Bohras)

Madhya Pradesh|

* Chhipa
* Ansari
* Dawoodi Bohra
* Dhobi
* Mughal
* Muslim Chhipi
* Pathans
* Shaikh
* Sayyid

Maharashtra|

* Attar
* Baghban
* Bhishti
* Chaush
* Chhipa
* Chhaparband
* Dawoodi Bohra
* Dhawad
* Faqir
* Garodi
* Gavandi
* Kachar
* Kagzi
* Konkani Muslims
* Momin
* Muslim Raj Gond
* Qassab
* Saiqalgar
* Tadvi Bhil

Rajasthan|

* Ansari
* Anderkoti
* Chhipa
* Cheetah
* Chadwa
* Dawoodi Bohra
* Deshwali
* Gaddi
* Ghosi
* Hela Mehtar
* Hiranbaz
* Kandera
* Khadem
* Khanzada
* Langha
* Manganiar
* Merat
* Meo
* Mughal
* Pinjara
* Kayamkhani
* Rangrez
* Rath
* Shaikhs of Rajasthan
* Silawat
* Sindhi-Sipahi
* Singiwala
* Sorgar

Tamil Nadu|

* Rowther
* Kayalar
* Labbay
* Marakkar
* Deccani Muslims (Pathans)
* Nawayath
* Dawoodi Bohra

Uttar Pradesh|

* Alvi
* Ansari
* Atishbaz
* Bachal
* Bachgoti Khanzada
* Baghban
* Baluch
* Bandhmati
* Barhai
* Behlim
* Banu Israil
* Behna
* Bhand
* Bharbhunja
* Bhale Sultan Khanzada
* Bhatiara
* Bhishti
* Muslim Bhumihar
* Bisati
* Chik
* Dakhini
* Dafali
* Dhagi
* Dharhi
* Dhobi Musalmaan
* Dogar
* Fareedi
* Faqir
* Gaddi
* Gautam Khanzada
* Ghosi
* Goriya
* Gujjar Musalmaan
* Halalkhor
* Halwai
* Idrisi
* Iraqi Biradari
* Jhojha
* Kabaria
* Kakorvi Shaikh
* Kamangars
* Kamboh
* Kasgar
* Kayastha Musalman
* Khanzada
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* Khumra
* Kingharia
* Kunjra
* Lal Begi
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* Madari
* Mandarkia
* Malkana
* Manihar
* Meo
* Milki
* Mirasi
* Mughal
* Mujavir
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* Muslim Chhipi
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* Nagar Muslims
* Nalband
* Nanbai
* Naqqal
* Panchpiria
* Pankhiya
* Pathans
* Putliwale
* Qalandar
* Qassab
* Qaum-e-Punjabian
* Qidwai
* Rai Bhatt
* Raj
* Garha
* Rajput Musalmaan
* Ramaiya
* Rangrez
* Rayeen
* Rohilla
* Sadaat Amroha
* Sadaat-e-Bara
* Sadaat-e-Bilgram
* Sai
* Salmani
* Sayyid of Uttar Pradesh
* Shaikh of Uttar Pradesh
* Shaikh Ja'fri
* Shaikhzada
* Siddiqui
* Teli Musalmaan
* Turk
* Tyagi Musalmaan

West Bengal|

* Abdal
* Dawoodi Bohra
* Bedia
* Faqir
* Ghosi
* Iraqi Biradari
* Kahar
* Kan
* Kela
* Khotta
* Lodha
* Malla
* Nashya
* Patua
* Sapuria
* Shershahabadia
* Shamsi

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