Origin and history
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Bundelas originated from Bundelkhand, but later came to parts of Bihar and Jharkhand.[4] As they were from land owning communities, they became wealthy zamindars with time and also had influential political positions.[5]
The Banaut[1] (also known as Bandaut)[2] is a Bundela Rajput clan found in the Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. Earlier people called them Bandaut because they believed that they are demigods of forests because they save Ban (forests) and also the lives of people from invaders.[3] They are said to have left Orchha, Jhansi, Mahoba and other parts of Bundelkhand during the Mughal period and migrated to Bihar and Jharkhand.[3] In the present, Bundela are part of the community of Anga Region.
Bundelas originated from Bundelkhand, but later came to parts of Bihar and Jharkhand.[4] As they were from land owning communities, they became wealthy zamindars with time and also had influential political positions.[5]
Banaut have their particular village deities such as Maa Kali, HanumanJi, Ram-Janaki and Radhakrishna.[5]
The Gotras of Banaut Rajputs are Bhardwaj, Dhenu, Vaksh, Kaushik, Garg, Sandilya and Vishwamitra.[2]
All of the Bundelas follow Sanatan Dharma as their religion.
Most of the Banauts live in the native villages of Anga Region of Bihar, namely Bhagalpur, Munger, Katihar, Purnia, Banka and in some parts of Saharsa and Araria. They live in parts of Jharkhand, namely Hazaribagh and Chatra and Santhal Pargana Division. Many have migrated to bigger cities like Patna, Ranchi and Delhi for better job opportunities and lifestyles.
A majority of the Banaut Rajputs speak the regional language of Anga Region - Angika along with other languages such as Hindi and English.[3]
Some of the villages of Bundela with significance:[6]
Their marriage relations are in those twenty and odd villages making them a closely connected and well-knit community.