The Holar community, declared by the government as a disappearing caste, it is still struggling to survive. Sticking to tradition…
The Holar community, declared by the government as a disappearing caste, is still struggling to survive. Due to the habit of sticking to tradition, changes have not happened quickly; but the new generation is now moving towards a new sunrise. Realizing that there is no salvation without education, they have started to associate with books. The new youth has become a ray of hope for the older generation.
The population of the Holar community in the district is only 25 to 35 thousand. In some places they are known as cobblers, in some places as chambhars and in some places as Holar. Working as a musician in front of temples and in religious programs is their traditional profession. In the eastern talukas of Jat, Atpadi, Kavathemahankal, Khanapur, a large number of the community is still engaged in this work. Many have received agricultural lands as a reward for the tradition of playing in front of temples, but the older generation has not mastered the art of cultivating rich crops from it. As a result, they are still engaged in traditional professions today.
They have settled in the temples of the goddess in the stream at Kokale, Siddhanath of Kharsundi, Jat, Sangola for their livelihood. They gain respect in weddings and offering incense in front of the gods. Some of the prominent surnames are Talkute, Jadhav, Kulkarni, Desai. Many families who had gone to Satara and Kolhapur districts for their livelihood have settled there.