The colourful Kaithi Lambada or Mathura is basically a pastoral community having migrated to these parts over 300 years ago. According to Ravinder Singh Modi, amateur Sikh historian at Nanded, Maharashtra, the Banjaras or Mathuras were in charge of supplies to Sikh armies that were constantly at war with the Mughals.
“When Guru Gobind Singh came to Nanded in June 1708, they followed him,” he claimed. “Guruji appreciated their help in retrieving lost Sikh literature and considered them as his sons,” Mr. Modi added.
The pastoralists settled in tandas in an vast geographical area which now forms part of Nanded district in Maharashtra and Medak, Nizamabad, Nirmal and Adilabad districts in Telangana. Their population is estimated to be about 2.5 lakh in Telangana and almost in entirety they have become a settled farming community.
Distinctive features
The Mathuras used to wear their colourful attires especially the women sporting a hairdo showing a elongated knotted plait on the head. They call their traditional songs ‘jayo-jayo’ and call their dance ‘horiya’.
“These are features which qualify us to be a tribe,” opined Chauhan Gulab Singh, an engineering official in the State government. However, the Mathura women no longer wear their traditional dress.
Another notable feature of the Kaithi Lambada community is their Bhandara or community kitchen. During specified events, the whole village participates in community lunch which is usually sponsored by one family. Like Lambada tribe, Mathura villages are also named after their local chieftains. The Lambadas and Mathuras also share the surnames.