One of the most popular and widely revered figures in India is Sri Krishna, a man born in northern India in approximately 3,228 BCE. Krishna made an indelible impression upon mankind’s collective consciousness by re-educating the world about devotion and righteousness. To this day hundreds of millions of people pray to him, chant his names, meditate on his form and try to put his teachings into practice.

Two of Krishna’s contemporaries were the brothers, Mota and Mola, who were also his disciples. As the story goes, Krishna arranged for Mota to marry Rukmini, and Mola to marry Radha, but Radha’s religious commitment kept the marriage unconsummated. Despite this unusual aspect of their marriage, Radha and Mola were devoted life partners. They became dancers and acrobats and traveled throughout the country exhibiting their skill before Rajas and Maharajas.

Still, they worried about their successors given that they would have no children of their own, and they devised a plan: When the kings for whom they performed asked what Mola and Radha wanted as payment, they asked for a child from each empire. In this way, they collected three princes from three empires and brought them up as their own children. In time, these children would marry, and the children born out of these marriages were the beginnings of the Banjara people.

Today, the Banjaras are the largest Romani group in India. Historically, they were a nomadic trading tribe, but their unique culture remains evident in their lifestyle, festivals, clothing, songs, and especially their dance. The Banjara type of dance started the trend of Bollywood in India, and has gone on to influence many forms of dance including elements of the incredible performance of Yana Kremneva at the 2016 Bayaderka Festival.

But we digress.

The Banjaras kept a dog known as the Banjara hound (sometimes seen as the Vanjari) which accompanied them as they moved their camps from place to place. The sighthound used for hunting and guarding camps was very much valued and loved by its community, Their amazing hunting skills aside,  they have been described as having the speed and agility of a Greyhound, and the stamina of a Collie.  The dogs are keen observers, very territorial and protective about their property. When hunting, according to Indian sources, they make a deep baying sound unlike any vocalizations made by other Indian breeds.

Little is known about their history. Desmond Morris has written that they are thought to have originated from crosses between Salukis and local indian dogs but as they never really became popular beyond their own people, little effort appears to have been made into investigating their origins. Sadly, the breed is at severe risk from interbreeding with other breeds. Many Banjaras have left traditional ways and have started to integrate into mainstream societies, leaving behind maintenance of the breed. Pure hounds are in scarce numbers today, and we hope that India’s evolving interest in its native breeds helps this one before it vanishes altogether.

Image found on Pinterest and happily credited upon receipt of information.