A Rajasthani Community With Unique Traditions Source: epaper.hindustantimes.com<http://www.feedblitz.com/t.asp?/330642/8703856/http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=28_06_2009_013_004&kword=&mode=1>
RAJASTHAN, INDIA, June 28, 2009: The one million strong community of Cheetah-Kathat Mehrat, spread over the four districts of Ajmer, Bhilwara, Pali and Rajsamand in Rajasthan, are in a unique predicament over their religious identity. Descendants of the Chauhan rulers, the community half-converted to Islam about 700 years ago, adopting only three practices of the many practices of Islam (burial, circumcision and eating halal). The rest of their lifestyle — names, marriage rituals, dressing styles — continued to be the same as Hindus. All went well for centuries, until in the 1980’s the community was approached by both Hindus and Muslims, who asked them to choose sides. Many converted to one of the faiths (numbers and statistics are disputed), but this brought along its share of problems. The once peaceful existence of the community is now disrupted by sporadic accusations, unethical religious conversions and, unfortunately, some violence as well. But in most homes, the unique mix of the Cheetah-Kathat Mehrat community endures.
