The Watal are a Kashmiri tribe found in the Indian administered area of Jammu and Kashmir. They are also known as Batal, Battal, and Batul, and the community have been granted Scheduled Caste status.
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Origin
The Watal are a Kashmiri speaking community, confined entirely to the Kashmir Valley. They are broadly divided into three sub-groups, the Seraj who are cobblers by profession, the Schupriya Watal who are manufacturers of the schup or winnowing fans and the Khumb Watal, who occupy the lowest status as they work as scavengers as well as tanners, occupations that are traditionally seen as polluting by other Kashmiri Muslim tribes.
Present circumstances
According to 2001 Census of India, the Watal numbered 169, although there total numbers are probably underreported, as the name Watal carries a stigma. This is seen by the fact that their entrance to mosques and shrines was restricted to the Watal, although this is no longer practiced, there are still occasionally prevented from entering places of worship. They are strictly endogamous, and prefer marrying close relatives. In general, there customs are similar to other Kashmiri Muslims, and the Waral are Sunni.
The Watal are a landless community, and most rural Watal are still employed as scavengers and sweepers, with agriculture labour being an important subsidiary occupation. In the cities, many are employed by the municipalities as cleaners, while many are also specifically employed to clear snow from roads in the winter. The Watal are an extremely marginalized group, with the majority of the community being illiterate.