Soni (caste)

Soni
Regions with significant populations
India • United Kingdom
Languages
Sindhi • Kutchi • Gujarati
Religion
Hinduism
Related ethnic groups
• Sunar • Shrimali Brahmins • Bania

The Soni are a Hindu caste found throughout India. They are traditionally goldsmiths in the state of Gujarat. They are also found among the Indian diaspora of the United Kingdom.^[1]

Present circumstances

The Soni are essentially still goldsmiths, with a few also involved in the manufacture of other items of jewelry. Like similar Hindu castes, they are endogamous and maintain a system of gotra exogamy. The various sub-divisions of the Soni have their own caste associations, such as the Patni Soni Mandal and Shrimali Soni Mandal. They follow Vaishnavism, and many belonging to the Swaminarayan sect. The community speak various dialects of Gujarati and Kutchi.^[1]

Few of the Soni community members belong to Mairh Kshatriya (Marwaris) Community, who basically hail from Rajasthan and also bear the surname Varma/Verma. These people are involved in the business of manufacturing of gold jewellery.

References

1 2 R.B Lal, P.B.S.V Padmanabham, G Krishnan & M Azeez Mohideen (eds.). People of India Gujarat Volume XXI Part Three. pp. 1318–1324.

Gujarati people

Brahmin communities	Aboti Brahmin Anavil Brahmin Bardai Brahmins Bhattmewada Brahmins Girnara Brahmin Jesthi Brahmins Khedaval Brahmin Modh Brahmins Nandwana Brahmins Nagar Brahmins Sachora Brahmins Sakaldwipiya Sidhra-Rudhra Brahmins Sompura Brahmins Sompura Salats

Kshatriya communities	Babaria Bhanushali Bhatti Chavda Chauhan Chudasama Dabhi Dodiya Kachhotia Kapadi Karadiya Kathi Darbar Khant Gohil Gori Jadeja Jethwa Jhala Jinkara Manka Maher Mahyavanshi Mahiya Darbar Nadoda Parmar Raizada Rathor Rehvar Sarvaiya Sagar Sikligar Sodha Solanki Thakor Vala Vaghela Wagher

Vaishya communities	Bhatia Luhana Modh Vanik Modh Ghanchi Soni

Farming communities	Anjana Chaudhari Koli Kunbi

Agricultural communities	Ahir Bharwad Rabari

Genealogist communities	Barot Charan

Artisan communities	Bhambi Khalpa Bhambi Rohit Bhambi Sindhi Mochi Bhavsar Brahma Kshatri Gihara Gurjar Kshatriya Kadia Kansara Koshti Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Mistry Mestri Panchal Gurjar Suthar Prajapati Shenva Sompura Salat Sathwara Salat Vankar Vanzha Valand

Tribal communities	Bamcha Bhil Bhil Dungri Garasia Bhil Vasava Bhoi Chaudhari Damor Dangi Dhanka Dhodia Dubla Gamit Garasia Godha Kharwa Kolis Mangela Kolis Meghwal Naikda Padhar Padharia Patanwadia Pateliya Rathodia Rathwa Tirgar Thori Vagri Warli

Muslim communities	Alavi Bohra Ansari Baloch Bhadala Chhipa Chundrigar Dawoodi Bohra Halaypotra Hingorja Hingora Jats of Kutch Juneja Kadia Kagzi Ker Khaskheli Khoja Machiyar Makrani Makwana Muslim Malik (caste) Mandali Mansoori Memon Meta Qureshi Miyana Molesalam Momna Multani Multani Lohar Mutwa Nagori Nayak Node Panar Patani Bohra Patni Jamat Pathans of Gujarat Salaat Samma Sandhai Muslims Shaikhs of Gujarat Shaikhda Sayyid of Gujarat Siddi Sipahi Sulaymani Bohra Sunni Bohra Tai Turk Jamat Vora Patel Vyapari Wagher

Jain communities	Navnat

Other communities	Parsi

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Soni (caste)

Present circumstances

See also

References