The Nai (or Valand in Gujarat) is a caste originating in India. The members were traditionally occupied as barbers, although many have adopted the name Sharma that was historically the preserve of Brahmins.
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Distribution
In the state of Gujarat the Nais are referred by the name Valand. The Valand have several territorial divisions, such as the Soratia, Halai, Gohil, and Jalawadi. They are further divided into clans, called ataks, the main ones being the Vaghela, Parmar and Hanani. The Valand are endogamous and practice clan exogamy. They speak Gujarati and concentrated in the urban areas.
The Nai community is listed as an Other Backward Class in various regions of India. These include:
Clans and divisions of the Valand
The Valand have several territorial divisions, such as the Soratia, Halai, Gohil, and Jalawadi. They are further divided into clans, called ataks, the main ones being the Solanki, Rathore, Vaghela, Parmar and Hanani. The Valand are endogamous and practice clan exogamy. They speak Gujarati and concentrated in the urban areas. The community are still essentially involved in the barbering trade, with a few rural Valand have taken up agriculture. A few were practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine.