Basith
The Chokli are a Hindu caste found in Jammu and Kashmir. According to the 2001 Census of India, the caste had 18,866 members.
History
According to tradition, the Vashist Rajput immigrated from
Poonch. The Vashist Rajput speak Pahari and their customs are similar to neighboring communities, such as the Domaal
. They are a Hindu community in a predominantly Muslim region. They were traditionally cultivators.
The Vashist Rajput maintain distance from neighboring Muslim communities with strict restrictions on eating together.[1]
Culture
The basith population is small and has no political representation. Many are farmers and the majority are poor. They worship
the Gita, and Gow Mata
. Sub-castes of basiths includes Telchubs, Chasyals, Charnals, Sukhwals, Singhals, Sanwals and Malhotra.
The basith are
excommunicated. The basith are Hindu of the Satnami sect. They worship the Hindi pantheon as well as their clan gods and goddesses, called kul-devitas.[1]