Gavli

Gavli is a pastoral community found in the states of Goa and Maharashtra in India. The word Gavli means a milkmen or herdsmen in the Konkani and Marathi language, and refers to a number of communities that practice, or at one time practiced pastoralism in western India.

Ethnonym

Alternate spellings include Gowli, Gowlu, Gyawali, Gawli, Gavali, Gawali, Gauli, Gavadi, Gouli, Goalla, Gwala, Gwalla, and Gopa.

In Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, the Gavli community have four sub-divisions, the Yadav or Ahir Gavli, Yadavanshi Gavli, Nandvanshi Gavli and Lingayat Gavli. Each of these groups is of a distinct origin, and do not intermarry, and have their own particular customs and traditions.

The Yadav Ahir Gavli

The Ahir are one of the four sub-divisions of the Gavli found in Maharashtra, and are found throughout the state. They are also known as Ahire, Golkar, Goalar, and Rawat. According to their tradition following a communal riot between Hindus and Muslims, they left their ancestral village of Kharpa in Kannauj District of Uttar Pradesh. The community continue speak Hindi among themselves, but most also speak Marathi. They have been granted other backward caste status in Maharashtra. Historically, the community was involved in selling of milk.