Kandera


The Kandera are a Hindu community found in the state of Rajasthan in India. they are belongs ksthriya.

History and origin

The community is historically associated with the occupation of cotton ginning. In the local language, Rajasthani, the word kani means cotton, and kandera means someone who works with cotton. Like many groups in Rajasthan, they are ksthriya, their ancestor, a Kanakpal Singh had fallout with Alauddin Khalji, the Muslim ruler of North India. He was defeated by the Sultan, and many members of his clan accepted Islam and took up the occupation of cotton ginning.

Present circumstances

The Kandera are found mainly in Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur and Sawai Madhopur districts. There native dialect is Braj Bhasa. The community are divided into thirty six clans, and they practice clan exogamy.
They are a landless community, and live by cotton ginning and making quilts and pillows.