Lohars or blacksmiths, also called ironworkers, are a social group in India and Pakistan. Lohars have made weapons in various kingdoms from the start of civilization i.e. Hindu Rajas, Sikh Army, European kingdoms etc. They were the Hindu rulers of Indian Kashmir, the Lohara dynasty. Lohars worship Lord Vishwakarma and other Hindu gods. They are the descendants of the Hindu god Vishwakarma. Lohar are Ruler of Kashmir Lohara Dynasty (Lohar Rajvansh) They form part of a loose grouping of traditionally artisanal castes known as Panchals. Regional synonyms include Vishwakarma and Saifi (for Muslims). Surname in Bihar used as Sharma. Writers of the British Raj period often used the term Lohar as a synonym for blacksmith.

 

Surnames

Lohar have different surnames in different states. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, they use Vishwakarma, and Thakur surname.

Andhra Pradesh: Achari, Chary, and Acharya

Tamil Nadu: Vishvabrahmins, Kamaalar, Aachari or Aasaari

Kerala : Achari, Vishwakarma,ashari, panjal

Delhi, Rajasthan: Lohar, Mistri, Panchal

Maharashtra: Suryavanshi, Kale, Dharankar, Chavhan, Pawar, Panhalkar, Yande, Borkar, Ghotekar, Manekar, Dhuratkar, Nagare, Thorat, Ingle, Dangre, Upankar, Mane, Ighe, Lohar, Koshe, Waghodekar, Kumbare, Panvalkar, Dhole, Pakhale. In Konkan Area Shemadkar, Katalkar, Gulekar, Shirvankar, Ghadi, Masurkar, Chapekar, Masurkar, Pomendkar

Gujarat:Panchal,Makwana, Pitroda, Parmar, Pithva, Suthar, Mistry, Wadia, Gohil.

West Bengal: Karmakar, Lohar

Nepal: Biswakarma/Kami

Rajasthan:Suthar and Jangid Brahmins Bengal Karmakar, Lohar, Raut, Majhi, Guli, Gulimajhi, Dandamajhi, Dalui, Sutar

Orissa : Moharana, Mohapatra, Sutar, Sahu, Parida

Haryana : Tanwar, Panwar, Solanki, Chauhan, Dangi, Karhera, Dharra, Bhavra, Siwal, Lohar, Panchal, Bhardwaj

Assam: Karmakar, Lohar, Vishwakarma

 

Himachal Pradesh

Tarkhan and Lohar are two castes in Himachal Pradesh. Sikh Lohar are known as Tarkhan. While the Lohar caste has been included in the SC, the Tarkhan caste has been kept in the OBC List of the State. In fact, the two castes are one and the same for all social and matrimonial purposes.

 

Uttar Pradesh

The Lohar are one of the most widespread communities considered as OBC in Uttar Pradesh. They are divided along religious lines, with the Hindu Lohar known as Vishwakarmas and Muslim Lohars known as Saifis. They are further divided into a number of exogamous groupings, the main ones being the sharma, vishwakarma. Most Lohar are still engaged in their traditional occupation of metal fabrication, although the majority of those in western Uttar Pradesh are cultivators. The assimilated Lohar speak Hindi and its various dialects such as Awadhi; other speak the Ho language. they are also known as purbiyas and ujjainiya rajput in up bihar rajsthan madhya pradesh.etc. They consider themselves as vishwabrahmins.

 

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