Gamit

Brief Details of Gamit

Gamit

Gamit believe that they belong to The Sun dynasty Rajput community. It is believed that they might have migrated to India via Khaibar Ghat and Bolanghat of Sindh region and then they might have proceeded to Marwad areas. This is supported by the songs of leel sung by Gamit old ladies during Holi festival. They perform 'Pooja' on any social or religious occasions. The first God to be worshiped is the Sun God. All other Gods are worshiped after this. Another school of thought indicates that the word 'Gamit' came from the word 'Gam' - a village. That those who got settled in a village (a Gam) are Gamits. They are also known as Vasava (those who settled).

Population

The population of Gamits is found in the districts of Surat, Bharuch, Valsad and Dangs. In Surat district, they are found in Vyara, Songadh, Uchchal and Nizar talukas. They are known as Gamits or Mavachi. Their sub-tribes are Padvi, Valvi and Vasava. Gamits are believed to be sub-tribe of Bhils. Those Bhils who got settled in a village were known as Gamits. As per 2001 census, the total population of Gamits was 3,54,362. Of this, 1,76,780 are male and 1,77,582 are female. The percentage of Gamits among total tribal population is 4.74 per cent.

Habitation, House-Hold Kit

Gamits are settled in villages. Their houses are not in a queue of strait line like city chawls. Though they stay in vicinity of each other, they are independently situated. All houses have open space around four walls. Sometimes the houses are built on small hills; and some houses are built in the foot-step of hills.

The building material is clay, cow dung, and paddy grass. Bamboos are used in construction of walls. The roofs are constructed suitable to geographical conditions. Either indigenous or Manglory tiles are used to cover roofs. In modern times, some houses have now RCC roofs also.

Gamits stay in houses owned by them. In their houses, they keep the utensils made from copper, brass, aluminum, steel, clay or glass. Besides, they have some matresses, cots, kerosene lamp, and wooden stand, drum to store food-grain, a radio, T.V., Tape recorder, tin box and steel cupboard etc.

Musical Instruments

They have musical instruments made from leather, metal strings, shankh, Dhan, a pipe, Noly, Pawari, Dobru, Ghonghali etc.

Dress

The people of old generation still prefer to put on traditional dress. The children, however, have adopted Bush-shirt and half-pant, whereas youth put on shirt and pant. Girls prefer either old fashioned frock or new fashioned Punjabi dress. Men put on pant-shirts and women put on either punjabi dress or Saree, blouse and patty-coat/chaniya. Older people invariably have a cap on their head. Older women put on saree in Maharashtra way seperating both legs from each other with a saree tied down at back.

Ornaments

Gamit women are fond of ornaments. They have a 'Kanthi' (round-shaped solid necklace) or a chain (Achhodo) in their neck. They have 'Donto' on nose, ear-rings in ears, bangles on hand, kanku or bracelet on arms, kadla-plain round shaped ornament gripped on legs- or Sankla (zanzar) with a lots of small silver bells. Males put on siver chain (waist-band) on waist, rings on fingers of hand and 'Dolo' on fingers of legs. Besides, several other ornaments are also used.

Dialect

Gamits speak Gamit language. Their communication is in Gamit dialect only. They are known as 'Gamits of 52 families' and they donot have fixed formation of speech.

Food and Drink

They consume food grains of Nagli, Juwar, Rice, Maize (for preparing loaf), Urad and Tuver for pulse-dal and potatoes and onion as vegetables besides all seasonal vegetables. They also consume Rice, chapati, pulses. Usually they consume meat and fish also as well as wine and Tadi. But those who have joined Bhakti school of religious thoughts have given up these items.

Education

As per 2001 census, the literacy level among Gamit is 52.91 percent. Gamits stay both in villages as well as cities; and therefore they could make use of various Government policies including reservation in education.

Religion

Gamits have faith in Hindu religion. They believe in Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Besides they have faith in their traditional tribal Gods/Goddesses like Devli Madi, Gaumukh, Dunger Dev, Gowal Dev, Anaj Dev etc. They keep vows for some purposes and also go for pilgrimage occasionally.

They celebrate several festivals like Gam dev no, Holi, Gowal Dev festival, Vaghdev Mahadev, Dussera, Diwali, Nano Dev-Moto Dev etc. Besides those Gamits, who have Mahadev, Dussera, Diwali, Nano Dev-Moto Dev etc. Besides those Gamits, who have converted into Christianity celebrate christmas with great joy.

Occupation

Gamits are usually steady agriculturist community. Some people whose land has been snatched away, work as agricultural laborers or other laborers because they are deprived of their ancestor's land. Besides some people prefer to go for employment, thanks to the education level which is going up day by day. Some go for animal husbandry and many others go for job in nearby factories.

Caste-Panch

In Gamit community, there is formal or informal caste - panch for controls and regulations in their social dealings. The people from the Gamit community meet to-gather and constitute the caste-panch for community members to follow rules and regulations. Besides, Gamits have their written constitution. The Caste-Panch looks after the cases of marriages, re-marriages, divorce, education etc.

Social Customs

The life cycle of Gamit community covers three main phases of their life viz. Birth marriage and death.

Birth of a Child

There is no custom that first delivery of the Gamit girl should be at the parents place. The only consideration is where there are better facilities and better place. The Dai comes home for five days to give a bath to the new born child. On fifth day of the birth of a child a 'Pancharo' or on sixth day 'a chhathi' is performed.

Engagement

For betrothal (engagement), the boy's party goes to a girl's house. They meet to-gather and discuss. If they find the matter suitable, they decide to give 'Piyan' i.e. promise. They may also visit each other's house to have clear idea about the party.

Marriage

Usually Tuesday or Thursday is considered better for marriage. Pandal is erected for marriage; usually near the house. The people of the community or neighbors help in this.

For giving invitation to attend marriage ceremony, the rice with Haldi or Kanku are placed on the threshold of a house. This is symbolic suggestion. Now days, this is accompanied by a printed invitation card also. The marriage is performed both traditionally as well as according to Hindu customs with a Brahmin getting it performed. Traditionally as well as according to Hindu customs with a Brahmin getting it performed. Dinner follows marriage. This community believes in customs like Aana, Khandhad marriage, love marriage, to marry a sister of a wife if wife expires (salivatu) or to marry a younger brother of husband, if the husband expires (Diyarvatu), Polygamy, re-marriage after divorce etc.

Divorce

No divorce in this community can be given within three years of married life and no sexual relations can be kept while the spouse is living, nor a marriage with anybody is permitted. Those who disobey this rule is liable to be fine of Rs. 351/-. In case the dispute is not resolved, one can approach the court.

Re-Marriage

A Gamit widow is permitted to remarry in following circumstances: If a widow has a child, Rs. 32/- are to be given. All the marriages are registered in a book along with signature of both the parties.

Death

If a death occurs in a Gamit family, the dead body is kept near a grinding stone with head in north and the legs in south. The drum is played in a peculiar way to announce the death. People come and cry. A dead body can either be cremated or buried in underground. The dead body of the child is buried in the ground. The dead body when cremated is given fire with Ambli, Babool and Tick wood. The person carrying the fire-pot before the funeral bier is a special person in a village. The ornaments from the body of a dead person are removed. The dead body is taken to a river bank; the family members move around a dead body for seven times. The month of a dead body is cleansed with a Khakhra brush and served the curd, Khichdi, wine etc. with turned hand. Then it is kept on death-bed and the relatives give fire to it. Then they take bath at the river or a well. After they return home from crematorium, and sit little away from deceased’s house; again the 'Tur' instrument is, played. The persons who went at crematorium are served with sugar and jaggery. They have also a custom of Dahodo-pari, Khatru, Barma (giving lunch after death) and offering pooja.

Speciality

The marriages among Gamit are mostly in same Gotra. The adjective is to find a spouse from a known family. Astala, Mavli, Vaghdev etc. etc. are their Gods and Goddesses. On occasion, they visit their places and celebrate the festival with dance and music.