AHIR
Indo Gangetic Plain, India
The Ahir were reportedly one of the Central Asian immigrant tribes who arrived in India during the early Christian period. For centuries, the Ahir have been a strictly occupational caste, drawn primarily from indigenous tribes. Ahirs and many forest tribes have a close relationship because cattle must graze in the forest during hot weather. Since they live in Gond villages, many Ahir in Mandla are barely considered Hindus (a forest tribe).
