Gopal (caste)

Gopal (Gauda)
Gopal (Gauda)
Classification	Ahir (Yadav)
Religions	Hinduism
Languages	Odia
Populated states	Odisha
Population	431,474 (1901 census); 890,702 (1931 census)
Subdivisions	Mathurapuria; Gopapuria; Magadhaa
Related groups	Khandayat

Gopal or Gouda is an Indian caste, from Odisha State in East India. Their traditional occupations include dairy farming, cattle herding, cultivation and carrying palanquins of deities and other social communities. They also worked as Paikas (soldiers) under the kings^[vague]. Gopal is the name of the milkmen or herdsmen caste in Odisha, which is known by other names (such as Ahir, Yadav, Goala etc.) in various parts of India. They are included in the OBC (Other Backward Class) list.

According to the 1931 census of India, they are the second largest caste by numbers and comprise around 9% of Odisha's population.

Etymology

The word Gopal derived from vedic "Gopala", which "Go" refers to cow and "Pala" refers to protector or herder. Hence "Gopala" literally means "cow herder".

Origin and history

The Gopalas (Gaudas) like all Yadavs claim that they are descendants from Krishna of the ancient Yadava clan.

After the Sanskritisation of castes in India, the Gopalas started to be incorporated into a newly established Yadav Kshatriya or Yaduvanshi Kshatriya community, along with Ahir, Gops, Goalas, and Sadgops. In the Yadav Mahasabha held in 1930, dairy farming castes such as Ahirs, Goalas, Gopalas etc. were advised to Identify themselves as "Son of Krishna" and hence they can identify themselves as martial caste.

Subdivisions

The Gopalas (Gaudas) are three types:- Mathurapuria, Gopapuria and Magadhaa, where Mathurapurias and Gopapurias are superior to Magadha classes. Which symbolically refer to their ancestral land of Mathura and Gokul (Gopa) of Uttar Pradesh and Magadha of Bihar. While the Magadha Gauda are inhabitants of Singhbhum and western Mayurbhanj, they possibly represent an accretion of some aboriginal tribes. There are minor differences among them, some area of Odisha the Gopalas are also known as their other names including: Mahakul, Sholakhandia, Sadgope and Gopal Baishnab among them.

Culture

Festival

The Dola Purnima (Holi festival): is the Major festival of Gopalas (Gaudas), It starts from the tenth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Falguna (Feb-March) known as Fagu 'Dasami'. This festival is celebrated for five days in Odisha. In this festival they place the idols of Radha Krishna in a Bimana (richly decorated palanquins), Smearing the heads with Abira (a violet coloured powder). Specially people of Gopala community carrying this palanquin and take round a procession with village Priest, drummers, pipers and the Sankirtana Mandalis. The procession halts in front of each household and the deity is offered Bhog. On the final day of the purnima the celebration culminates in a swing-festival for the deities.
The Dahi-handi Jatra (curd-pot festival): The birthday of Lord Krishna on the eighth day of Krushna pakshya is popularly celebrated throughout India as Janmastami on the ninth day. Lord Krishna along with his friends had broken the curd-pot in the house of the king Nanda. This tradition is maintained in Paralakhemundi as Dahi-handi-Jatra. On the ninth day or Nabami, the people tie a curd pot with a bamboo and place it between two poles. Traditionally, a Gauda-boy as the representative of Lord Krishna breaks the curd pot. The other boys throw the coloured water from a hand pump (pichakari). Then the people place the Radha Krishna on a stage called 'Kunja’ and take a procession around the town.

Tradition

Laudi Badi Khela is a traditional dance with combination of martial art and folk dance (called Laudi Nacha & Badi Khela) of the Gaudas (Gopalas), which is performed during Dola Purnima. In this dance the young Gopala boys wearing a special clothes in associated with Krishna. At first they practice 'Badi Khela'(martial art) by one or two trained people of their community, who held a sword in the right hand and a stick in left hand. They perform this art for sometime and then played 'Laudi'(folk dance) by a group of minimum 9 to 12 boys. Each boys holding two stick in their hand, dance with striking each other's stick in a rhythmical manner in front of the Palanquin of Radha Krishna.
Gopalila is a traditional puppet theatre, performed by Gopals (Cowherd boys) of Odisha. They perform this theater on the occasion of Janmastami and Govardhan Puja. The concept of this theatre is associated with god Krishna's life.

Titles

The Gopalas uses surnames like Behera, Das, Palei/Palai, Pandab, Biswal, Sandha, Hati, Kabi, Bhutia, Mahakul, Mahakhud/Mahakud, Mohapatra, Sasmal, Rout, Parida, Podh, Jal, Bhujabal, Khilar, Singh, Routray, Samantray, Pratihari, Mandei, Senapati, Dalua, Apata, Nayak, Bagarti, Pradhan, Khuntia, Bag/Bagh, Hansha, Dalchhatra, Kharsel, Karuan, Nag and Shandh, Banchhor among others.

Social Status

Gopalas are followers of Vaishnavism. Among them Gopapurias and Sadgops are the relics of Bala Gopala cult. They are one of a caste of Panikhia Jati group of Odisha. They assist Brahmins on ritual occasion and also serve as priests in some temples. They claim Kshatriya status and in social hierarchy they occupies the rank next to Khandayats. They are included in the OBC list of the state.

References

↑ Gait, E. A. (1909). Census of India – 1901, Vol- VIA – The lower probinces of Bengal and their Feudatourie (Part II, The Imperial Tables). Bengal Secretariat Press. pp. 212–213.
↑ Lacey, W. g (1932). Bihar and Orissa – Census Of India 1931. Vol. 7. Part II, Tables. p. 137.
1 2 Pati, Biswamoy (1993). Resisting Domination: Peasants, Tribals, and the National Movement in Orissa, 1920-50. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-027-6. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
↑ Dipti Ray (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. pp. 90–. ISBN 9788172111953.
↑ Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press. p. 168.
↑ Nishamani Kar (2002). Animal Husbandry and Rural Development: Restructuring and Planned Development of the Bovine Economy. Deep and Deep Publications. pp. 206–. ISBN 9788176293587.
↑ Pati, Biswamoy (2001). Situating Social History: Orissa, 1800-1997. Orient Blackswan. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-250-2007-3. Natha Behera's privileged position was a result of the fact that he had been the head palki-bearer of Banamali Pati for twenty years. He was paid more than others whom he gathered when required.
1 2 Rabindra Nath Pati; Jagannatha Dash (2002). Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. APH Publishing. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-7648-322-3.
↑ Mahapatra, M. (1981). Traditional Structure and Change in an Orissan Temple. Indische Studien. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
↑ Akio Tanabe (29 July 2021). Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-00-040933-8.^{[page needed]}
↑ Surajit Sinha; Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (1987). Tribal Polities and State Systems in Pre-colonial Eastern and North Eastern India. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. ISBN 9788170740148.^{[page needed]}
↑ Rolamba. Joshi Research Institute. 1982.
↑ Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 9788121003254.
↑ GOI, Government of India. "national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc/central-list-of-obcs".
↑ Kumar, Sanjay (2004). "Janata Regionalized: Contrasting Bases of Electoral Support in Bihar and Orissa". In Rob Jenkins (ed.). Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States (PDF). Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 6.
↑ John A. Grimes (1 January 1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. SUNY Press. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-0-7914-3067-5.
↑ Georg Feuerstein; Subhash Kak; David Frawley (1999). In Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-81-208-1626-8.
↑ Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 115–. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.
↑ William R. Pinch (18 June 1996). Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-520-91630-2.
↑ Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science.
↑ Dr. Taradatt. Odisha District Gazetteers (Khorda) (PDF) – via gopabandhuacademy.gov.in.
↑ Orissa (India) (1972). Orissa District Gazetteers: Sambalpur. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.
↑ Prashant K. Mishra (1992). Harijans in Hindu and Tribal Social Structures. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7141-165-8.
↑ Taradatt, Dr (1967). Mayurbhanj district Gazzetter (PDF). p. 99.
↑ Laeequddin, Muhammad (1937). Census of Mayurbhanj State 1931. Vol. I. Calcutta: Caledonin Printing Company. pp. 173–178, 197–198. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352830. OCLC 496724918.
↑ Russell, R.V. (1916). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. II. Macmillan and Company, limited. p. 20. Retrieved 17 June 2023. Alt URL
↑ Nagendra Kumar Padhi (2007). Police and the Weaker Sections. APH Publishing. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-81-313-0129-6.
↑ "www.stscodisha.gov.in" (PDF).
↑ Ramesh P. Mohanty (2003). Dalits Development and Change: An Empirical Study. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-81-7141-696-7.
↑ "Dola Purnima (Holi)". Odisha Tourism. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
↑ "magazines.odisha.gov.in" (PDF).
↑ The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 2004.
↑ Nanda, Kanhu (6 April 2013). "Odihsa's folk dance 'Laudi Khela' during Dola fest loses its fame and charm". Odisha Views. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
↑ "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).
↑ James R. Brandon; Martin Banham (28 January 1997). The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. pp. 101–. ISBN 978-0-521-58822-5.
↑ Patra, Patitapaban (1994). Archaeological remains of Dhenkanal (PDF) (Thesis). Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. p. 205. hdl:10603/118750.
↑ Singh, K.S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. National series. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1082. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
↑ India. Department of Anthropology (1958). Memoir: (India. Dept. of Anthropology). Manager of Publications, Delhi. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
↑ Roy, S.C. (1964). Man in India. A. K. Bose. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
↑ Shyam Sunder Tripathy (1988). Buddhism and Other Religious Cults of South-east India. Sundeep Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85067-15-5.
↑ "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).
↑ Dilip Kumar Mukherjee (1970). Chaitanya. National Book Trust, India.
↑ Misra, B. (1986). Indian Culture and Cult of Jagannātha. Orissa studies project. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
↑ Nava Kishor Das (2012). Odisha. Anthropological Survey of India by Seagull Books. ISBN 978-81-7046-293-4.
↑ The Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay. Education Society's Press. 1925.
↑ Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur) (1998). Man in India. A. K. Bose.
↑ "Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes". Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
↑ Prasad, D. M. Ravi (2004). Eradication of Caste and Birth of New Humanity. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7629-513-0.

[1] Gait, E. A. (1909). Census of India – 1901, Vol- VIA – The lower probinces of Bengal and their Feudatourie (Part II, The Imperial Tables). Bengal Secretariat Press. pp. 212–213.

[2] Lacey, W. g (1932). Bihar and Orissa – Census Of India 1931. Vol. 7. Part II, Tables. p. 137.

[q939-3] 1 2 Pati, Biswamoy (1993). Resisting Domination: Peasants, Tribals, and the National Movement in Orissa, 1920-50. Manohar Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-81-7304-027-6. Retrieved 14 October 2025.

[Ray2007-4] Dipti Ray (2007). Prataparudradeva, the Last Great Suryavamsi King of Orissa (A.D. 1497 to A.D. 1540). Northern Book Centre. pp. 90–. ISBN 9788172111953.

[(India)1966-5] Orissa (India) (1966). Orissa District Gazetteers: Cuttack. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press. p. 168.

[Kar2002-6] Nishamani Kar (2002). Animal Husbandry and Rural Development: Restructuring and Planned Development of the Bovine Economy. Deep and Deep Publications. pp. 206–. ISBN 9788176293587.

[7] Pati, Biswamoy (2001). Situating Social History: Orissa, 1800-1997. Orient Blackswan. p. 68. ISBN 978-81-250-2007-3. Natha Behera's privileged position was a result of the fact that he had been the head palki-bearer of Banamali Pati for twenty years. He was paid more than others whom he gathered when required.

[PatiDash2002-8] 1 2 Rabindra Nath Pati; Jagannatha Dash (2002). Tribal and Indigenous People of India: Problems and Prospects. APH Publishing. pp. 196–. ISBN 978-81-7648-322-3.

[Mahapatra_1981_p.-9] Mahapatra, M. (1981). Traditional Structure and Change in an Orissan Temple. Indische Studien. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 27 November 2022.

[Tanabe2021-10] Akio Tanabe (29 July 2021). Caste and Equality in India: A Historical Anthropology of Diverse Society and Vernacular Democracy. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-00-040933-8.^{[page needed]}

[SinhaSciences1987-11] Surajit Sinha; Centre for Studies in Social Sciences (1987). Tribal Polities and State Systems in Pre-colonial Eastern and North Eastern India. Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta. ISBN 9788170740148.^{[page needed]}

[12] Rolamba. Joshi Research Institute. 1982.

[Singh1993-13] Kumar Suresh Singh (1993). People of India: Bio-cultural Dimensions : a K.S. Singh Festschrift. Inter-India Publications. ISBN 9788121003254.

[14] GOI, Government of India. "national-commission-for-backward-classes-ncbc/central-list-of-obcs".

[15] Kumar, Sanjay (2004). "Janata Regionalized: Contrasting Bases of Electoral Support in Bihar and Orissa". In Rob Jenkins (ed.). Regional Reflections: Comparing Politics Across India's States (PDF). Delhi: Oxford University Press. p. 6.

[Grimes1996-16] John A. Grimes (1 January 1996). A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy: Sanskrit Terms Defined in English. SUNY Press. pp. 129–. ISBN 978-0-7914-3067-5.

[FeuersteinKak1999-17] Georg Feuerstein; Subhash Kak; David Frawley (1999). In Search of the Cradle of Civilization: New Light on Ancient India. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 149–. ISBN 978-81-208-1626-8.

[Pati2008-18] Rabindra Nath Pati (2008). Family Planning. APH Publishing. pp. 115–. ISBN 978-81-313-0352-8.

[Pinch1996-19] William R. Pinch (18 June 1996). Peasants and Monks in British India. University of California Press. pp. 91–. ISBN 978-0-520-91630-2.

[20] Michelutti, Lucia (2002). "Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town" (PDF). London School of Economics and Political Science.

[21] Dr. Taradatt. Odisha District Gazetteers (Khorda) (PDF) – via gopabandhuacademy.gov.in.

[(India)1972-22] Orissa (India) (1972). Orissa District Gazetteers: Sambalpur. Superintendent, Orissa Government Press.

[Mishra1992-23] Prashant K. Mishra (1992). Harijans in Hindu and Tribal Social Structures. Discovery Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7141-165-8.

[24] Taradatt, Dr (1967). Mayurbhanj district Gazzetter (PDF). p. 99.

[25] Laeequddin, Muhammad (1937). Census of Mayurbhanj State 1931. Vol. I. Calcutta: Caledonin Printing Company. pp. 173–178, 197–198. JSTOR saoa.crl.25352830. OCLC 496724918.

[q72v8-26] Russell, R.V. (1916). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India. Vol. II. Macmillan and Company, limited. p. 20. Retrieved 17 June 2023. Alt URL

[Padhi2007-27] Nagendra Kumar Padhi (2007). Police and the Weaker Sections. APH Publishing. pp. 55–. ISBN 978-81-313-0129-6.

[28] "www.stscodisha.gov.in" (PDF).

[Mohanty2003-29] Ramesh P. Mohanty (2003). Dalits Development and Change: An Empirical Study. Discovery Publishing House. pp. 38–. ISBN 978-81-7141-696-7.

[Odisha_Tourism_2010-30] "Dola Purnima (Holi)". Odisha Tourism. 1 January 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2020.

[31] "magazines.odisha.gov.in" (PDF).

[32] The Orissa Historical Research Journal. Superintendent of Research and Museum. 2004.

[Nanda_2013-33] Nanda, Kanhu (6 April 2013). "Odihsa's folk dance 'Laudi Khela' during Dola fest loses its fame and charm". Odisha Views. Retrieved 11 August 2020.

[34] "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).

[BrandonBanham1997-35] James R. Brandon; Martin Banham (28 January 1997). The Cambridge Guide to Asian Theatre. Cambridge University Press. pp. 101–. ISBN 978-0-521-58822-5.

[36] Patra, Patitapaban (1994). Archaeological remains of Dhenkanal (PDF) (Thesis). Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. p. 205. hdl:10603/118750.

[Singh_1996_p._1082-37] Singh, K.S. (1996). Communities, Segments, Synonyms, Surnames and Titles. National series. Anthropological Survey of India. p. 1082. ISBN 978-0-19-563357-3. Retrieved 3 July 2023.

[India._Department_of_Anthropology_1958_p.-38] India. Department of Anthropology (1958). Memoir: (India. Dept. of Anthropology). Manager of Publications, Delhi. Retrieved 30 June 2023.

[Roy_1964_p.-39] Roy, S.C. (1964). Man in India. A. K. Bose. Retrieved 3 July 2023.

[Tripathy1988-40] Shyam Sunder Tripathy (1988). Buddhism and Other Religious Cults of South-east India. Sundeep Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-85067-15-5.

[41] "gopabandhuacademy.gov.in" (PDF).

[Mukherjee1970-42] Dilip Kumar Mukherjee (1970). Chaitanya. National Book Trust, India.

[Misra_1986_p.-43] Misra, B. (1986). Indian Culture and Cult of Jagannātha. Orissa studies project. Punthi Pustak. Retrieved 3 December 2022.

[Das2012-44] Nava Kishor Das (2012). Odisha. Anthropological Survey of India by Seagull Books. ISBN 978-81-7046-293-4.

[45] The Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay. Education Society's Press. 1925.

[Bahadur)1998-46] Sarat Chandra Roy (Rai Bahadur) (1998). Man in India. A. K. Bose.

[Odisha_State_Commission_for_Backward_Classes_v804-47] "Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes". Odisha State Commission for Backward Classes. Retrieved 24 August 2023.

[:0-48] Prasad, D. M. Ravi (2004). Eradication of Caste and Birth of New Humanity. Deep & Deep Publications. p. 29. ISBN 978-81-7629-513-0.