The Bhadala (Gujarati: ભડાલા; Arabic: بدل; Hindi: भदाला) are an ethnic group found in Pakistan and India. They are found mainly in the Kutch District of Gujarat. In Pakistan, they are found mainly in Karachi.^{[citation needed]} The Bhadala (Gujarati: ભડાલા; Arabic: بدل; Hindi: भदाला) are an ethnic group found in Pakistan and India. They are found mainly in the Kutch District of Gujarat. In Pakistan, they are found mainly in Karachi.^[1]

Present circumstances

The Bhadala are divided into a number of 32 clans, the main ones being the Dekla , Jadeja, Sap, Jethwa, Ruknani, Fatwani, mokha, Madwani, Kana, Babar, Bhopal, Thaim, Bholim, Turk, Madyar ,Bhojani, Vidhani, Chanaa, Sayani, Roomi, Juneja, Sodha, Sameja, Panjri, Palija, Koreja, Dosani, Bhatti, Ghohil, Saghani, Gunda and Siru. Many are names of well-known Sindhi tribes, and could point to a diverse origin of the community. But community boundaries are clear, and there is no intermarriage with neighbouring Muslim Maldhari communities like the Juneja, Royma and Ker. Each of their clans are of equal status and inter marry. The community have a well established caste association, the Muslim Bhadala Jamat, which is one of the oldest Muslim castes association in Gujarat. It has offices in Mombasa, Muscat, Dubai, Karachi (Keamari & Baba Island) and Keti Bandar, reflecting the widespread distribution of the community.^[2]

The Bhadala is still a seafaring community, and almost all the Dhow captains on the Dubai to India route are Bhadala. Many are also employed by the merchant navies of India and Pakistan. Generally each dhow crew is made up of close kinsmen. In Pakistan, the Bhadala owns a significant part of that countries fishing fleet. In India, the Bhadala often employ Muslim Machiyar or Hindu Kharwa on their fishing boats, while in Pakistan most of the crew is made up of ethnic Bengali Muslims.^[3]

The Bhadala are entirely Sunni, and follow the traditions of the other neighbouring Muslim communities.