The Dhawad are a Muslim community found in the state of Maharashtra in India.
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Origin
The Dhawad community were historically involved in the extraction of metal alloys from the earth. Little is known about the origin of this community, except that they are said to have immigrated from Bijapur District in Karnataka about two hundred years ago. They are now found all over Maharashtra, mainly in the districts of Satara, Kolhapur, Raigadh, Pune, Mumbai, Mahableshwar, Matheran. The community speak Marathi, although most members are also speak Urdu.
Present circumstances
The Dhawad, earlier period were strictly endogamous and the community practices clan exogamous; and are the only Muslim community is Maharashtra to do so.
They no longer practice their traditional occupation, and most are involved in daily wage labour. They occupy their distinct quarters in the towns and villages they inhabit. The community has a caste association, the Dhawad Jamat, which acts as an institution of community welfare.