Rabari

Rabari claim Balochistan as the place of their origin where there still is a temple of the Charani Goddess Hinglaj who they worship. Enthoven traces their origin to Marwar and Sindh, as well as their regular pilgrimages to the temple of Hinglaj in Baluchistan.The initial migrations in the folkloric memory of the Rabari refer to flights to Sindh and Kutch undertaken to escape Muslim persecution.According to Sigrid Westphal-Helbusch, significant migrations of Rabaris took place between 12th to 14th century, when they moved from Marwar to Sindh and Kutch. The migrations of Rabaris in fact follow similar paths as those of Rajputs and Charans, two other migrant group in this region, indicating intertwined histories. Westphal-Helbusch ascribes the goddess worship traditions of Rabaris to the Charan influence. as per Kevin McGrath their origins are probably Sindhi, and they came in Kutch, some centuries ago, from Balochisthan via a northward circuit through Rajasthan to, where many of the clan still live.

Rabaris were known for their elaborate Trajva tattoos. They are usually done on the forearms, face, throat. The tattoo can have a range of meanings, including representations of fertility or skill milestones. Green sap from a nearby plant is mixed with soot to make the tattoos.

The population genetics of the Rabari (also known as Raika or Dewasi) represents a distinct case study in South Asian human genomics, shaped by ancient pastoralist movements, centuries of strict endogamy, and adaptive physiological selection.

While the broader South Asian population follows a continuous genetic gradient, genome-wide studies place the Rabari in a distinct genomic cluster relative to surrounding agricultural and urban populations.

1. Ancestral Genetic Composition

Genome-wide SNP and ancient DNA (aDNA) modeling indicate that the Rabari possess a unique ancestral architecture compared to neighboring caste and tribal groups in Western India:

• Enriched Indus-Periphery / Zagros Ancestry: Modern Rabaris carry high proportions of Iranian Farmer / Zagros-related ancestry (60%-65%) relative to Ancestral Ancient South Indian (AASI) hunter-gatherer ancestry. This points to strong ancestral continuity with the early pastoralist and agricultural networks of the Indus Valley region.
• Distinct Steppe MLBA Profile: Unlike neighboring groups in Gujarat and Rajasthan that lean toward either higher AASI or higher Bronze Age Steppe ancestry, Rabaris present a moderate Steppe MLBA component (20%-25%) anchored by an exceptionally strong Indus-like autosomal core.