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THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CULTURE
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THE PEOPLE.
Details of 1951 Census.
THE POPULATION OF THE NEWLY CREATED DISTRICT OF KOLHAPUR, according to the census of 1951 is 1,227,547 (m. 623,421; f. 604,126). Spread over its area of 2.794.4 [This area figure has been Obtained from the Land Records Department or from Local records; the same as furnished by the Surveyor General of India is 2,756.3 sq. miles.] sq. miles, it works out at 439.3 to the sq. mile. This total is composed of Hindus numbering 1,104,651.(m. 559,838; f. 544,813) or 89.99 per cent.; Jains 58,124 (m. 30,006; f. 28,118) or 4.73 per cent.; Muslims 56,356 (m. 29,225; f. 27,131) or 4.59 per cent.; Christians 8,356
(m. 4,305; f. 4,051) or 0.68 per cent. The census has also enumerated separately 139,075 (m. 69,670; f. 69,405) belonging to "Scheduled Castes" and 214 (m. 133; f. 81) belonging to "Scheduled Tribes", 5,054 (m. 2,612; f. 2,442) as "Displaced persons" from Pakistan and 58 (m. 48; f. 10) as "Non-Indian " Nationals. The proportion of males in the whole population
of the district was 50.7 and of females 49.3. [The composition of population in Kolhapur State in 1881. These figures pertain to the old Kolhapur State to which were added new areas when it was reorganised under the same name after the merger of Indian States with the Indian Union. Out of a total population of 800,189. Hindus numbered 719,164, Jains 46,732, Musalmans 33,022, Christians 1,253 and others 18.]
The tract-wise distribution of the population over the district is as follows: -
Rural Tracts : 950,090 (m. 479,416; f. 470,674)-Karvir, Kagal, 221,178 (m. 112,605; f 108,573); Hatkanangale and Shirol 194,085 (m. 99,843; f. 94,242)-; Gadhinglaj, Ajra and Bhudargad 222,452 (m. 111,279; f. 111,173); Bavda, Radhanagari, Shahuwadi and Panhala 312,375 (m. 155,689; f. 156,686).
Urban Tracts: 277,457 (m. 144,005; f. 133,452)-Kolhapur city 136,833 (m. 71,360; f. 65,475); Hatkanangale, Shahuwadi and Panhala, 107,703 (m. 55,748; f. 51,955); Gadhinglaj, Kagal and Ajra 32,919 (m. 16,897; f. 16,022).
Livelihood Pattern.
The population is split up by the census into eight livelihood
classes.
Agricultural classes: (i) Cultivators of land wholly or mainly owned and their dependents-663,073 (m. 333,445; f. 329,628). (ii) Cultivators of land wholly or mainly unowned and their dependents-154,023 (m. 79,481; f. 74,542). (iii) Cultivating labourers and their dependents-84,636 (m. 42,595; f. 42,041). (iv) Non-cultivating owners of land, agricultural rent receivers and their dependents-26,523 (m.12,055; f. 14,478). Total-928,265 (m. 467,576; f. 460,689).
Non-agricultural Classes : Persons (including dependents) who derive their principal means of livelihood from, (v) Production other than cultivation-108,707 (m. 56,632; f. 52,075). (vi) Commerce-40,612 (m. 27,571; f. 13,041). (vii) Transport- 9,189 (m. 4,906; f. 4,283). (viii) Other services and miscellaneous sources-127,528 (m. 66,736; f. 60,792). Total-299,282 (m. 155,845; f. 143,437).
Of the seven tables of population statistics printed below:-
The first indicates the variation in area, houses and population over the long period from 1881 to 1951 (except for the year 1901).
The second table shows the changes in the composition of the population, for the years 1911, 1931 and 1951, in regard to age and marriage. The figures available for 1951 are for a sample population only.
The third gives for the years 1911, 1931 and 1951 the distribution of population according to languages.
The fourth exhibits the distribution of population by religion during the various Census years.
The fifth enumerates the distribution of population among the talukas according to the census for 1951
The sixth and the seventh give "area, houses, and inmates" for urban and rural areas in 1951.
TABLE No. I.
AREA, HOUSES AND POPULATION FROM 1881 TO 1951.
District Kolhapur.
|
Census
years. |
Area in Square Miles. |
Towns |
Villages |
Occupied Houses |
Population |
|
Urban |
Rural |
Urban |
Rural |
|
Males |
Females |
Males |
Females |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
1881 |
2,816 |
5 |
1,056 |
11,505 |
1,17,643 |
33,024 |
32,999 |
3,77,623 |
3,56,543 |
1891 |
2,855 |
9 |
1,056 |
18,525 |
1,42,107 |
55,763 |
53,284 |
4,05,111 |
3,95,853 |
1911 |
3,217 |
9 |
1,060 |
19,447 |
1,59,734 |
46,740 |
42,741 |
3,77,695 |
3,66,265 |
1921 |
3,217 |
11 |
1,036 |
21,158 |
1,45,035 |
54,998 |
49,714 |
3,73,545 |
3,55,469 |
1931 |
3,217 |
14 |
1,040 |
24,584 |
1,57,880 |
72,277 |
63,286 |
4,18,059 |
4,03,515 |
1941 |
3,219 |
14 |
1,037 |
34,222 |
1,81,218 |
90,352 |
81,583 |
4,64,586 |
4,55,525 |
1951 |
2,794.4 |
19 |
948 |
40,651 |
1,47,780 |
1,44,005 |
1,33,452 |
4,79,416 |
4,70,674 |
TABLE No. II.
CIVIL CONDITIONS BY AGE PERIODS (ALL COMMUNITIES).
District Kolhapur.
1911.
|
Age Periods |
Total Population |
Married |
Unmarried |
Widowed. |
|
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
0-5 |
57,674 |
58,582 |
859 |
3,475 |
56,798 |
55,029 |
17 |
78 |
|
5-10 |
54,019 |
51,786 |
2,357 |
16,111 |
51,561 |
35,118 |
101 |
557 |
|
10-15 |
51,261 |
42,353 |
7,969 |
30,282 |
42,939 |
10,341 |
353 |
1,730 |
|
15-20 |
34,186 |
29,912 |
13,904 |
26,099 |
19,673 |
1,015 |
609 |
1,798 |
|
20-40 |
1,28,079 |
1,29,232 |
1,06,158 |
1,05,265 |
14,838 |
2,221 |
7,083 |
21,746 |
|
40-60 |
77,327 |
72,438 |
62,808 |
31,845 |
1,611 |
897 |
12,908 |
39,696 |
|
60 and over |
21,889 |
25,703 |
13,959 |
2,649 |
337 |
238 |
7,593 |
22,816 |
|
Total |
8,33,441 |
4,24,435 |
2,08,014 |
2,15,726 |
1,87,757 |
1,04,859 |
28,664 |
88,421 |
TABLE No. II-contd.
1931. |
Age Periods. |
Total Population. |
Married. |
Unmarried. |
Widowed. | |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. | |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
0-1 |
14,640 |
14,553 |
67 |
85 |
14,573 |
14,466 |
-- |
2 |
1-5 |
55,694 |
60,069 |
623 |
1,659 |
55,062 |
58,348 |
9 |
62 |
5-10 |
68,102 |
16,360 |
2,273 |
13,066 |
65,744 |
47,793 |
85 |
501 |
10-15 |
62,684 |
53,654 |
5,213 |
23,807 |
57,308 |
28,956 |
163 |
891 |
15-20 |
41,956 |
39,313 |
16,109 |
35,056 |
25,406 |
2,556 |
441 |
1,701 |
20-30 |
79,574 |
81,268 |
58,810 |
71,996 |
18,603 |
1,999 |
2,161 |
7,273 |
30-40 |
67,072 |
63,528 |
59,551 |
47,285 |
3,329 |
963 |
4,192 |
15,280 |
40-50 |
47,967 |
42,829 |
40,995 |
22,230 |
933 |
610 |
6,039 |
19,989 |
50-60 |
31,076 |
28,042 |
23,939 |
8,086 |
459 |
421 |
6,678 |
19,535 |
60 and over. |
21,571 |
22,185 |
14,037 |
3,239 |
322 |
198 |
7,212 |
18,748 |
Total |
4,90,336 |
4,66,801 |
2,21,617 |
2,26,509 |
2,41,739 |
1,56,310 |
26,980 |
83,982 |
TABLE No. II-contd.
1951 [The Census Authorities prepared this table on the basis of data collected from the 10 per cent sample slips of the general population.]. |
Age Periods. |
Total Population. |
Married. |
Unmarried. |
Widowed or Divorced. | |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. |
Male. |
Female. | |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
-0 |
1,970 |
1,918 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1-4 |
6,606 |
6,331 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5-14 |
16,796 |
15,404 |
45 |
743 |
16,747 |
14,649 |
4 |
12 |
15-24 |
10,175 |
10,318 |
2,423 |
8,430 |
7,721 |
1,645 |
31 |
193 |
25-34 |
9,179 |
9,401 |
7,970 |
8,461 |
1,028 |
95 |
181 |
665 |
35-44 |
7,459 |
6,676 |
6,956 |
5,230 |
219 |
47 |
384 |
1,399 |
45-54 |
5,355 |
4,748 |
5,586 |
2,498 |
92 |
23 |
677 |
2,227 |
55-64 |
3,327 |
3,070 |
2,525 |
688 |
42 |
24 |
760 |
2,358 |
65-74 |
1,173 |
1,415 |
779 |
180 |
32 |
9 |
362 |
1,226 |
75 and over |
404 |
485 |
211 |
44 |
15 |
5 |
178 |
436 |
Age not stated. |
8 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
8 |
2 |
-- |
2 | |
Total |
62,452 |
59,770 |
25,395 |
26,504 |
34,480 |
24,748 |
2,557 |
8,518 |
TABLE No. III.
LANGUAGE (MOTHER-TONGUE), DISTRICT KOLHAPUR. |
Languages. |
1911. |
1931. |
1951. | |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females |
|
Marathi |
3,37,953 |
3,27,566 |
3,91,768 |
3,72,478 |
5,24,025 |
5,14,479 |
|
Kannadda |
67,545 |
63,940 |
74,997 |
72,021 |
60,299 |
54,862 |
|
*Urdu |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
26,672 |
24,506 |
|
Telugu |
812 |
647 |
1,910 |
1,849 |
2,824 |
3,157 |
|
*Sindhi |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2,691 |
2,493 |
|
Gujarati |
-- |
-- |
1,146 |
1,259 |
2,001 |
1,621 |
|
*Hindi |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2,534 |
759 |
|
Rajasthani |
168 |
102 |
275 |
109 |
608 |
512 |
|
Konkani |
-- |
-- |
304 |
338 |
536 |
571 |
|
Tamil |
-- |
-- |
28 |
14 |
569 |
521 |
|
Hindustani |
-- |
-- |
15,811 |
14,709 |
381 |
423 |
|
*Kachchhi |
-- |
-- |
12 |
1 |
57 |
42 |
|
*Portuguese |
4 |
3 |
-- |
-- |
51 |
43 |
|
*Beldari |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
30 |
34 |
|
*Tulu |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
19 |
37 |
|
*Malayalam |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
40 |
8 |
|
*Panjabi |
4 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
31 |
8 |
*In 1931 Census all these languages are included with other Indian Languages. In 1931 Census all European and Asian languages are not given separately.
TABLE No. III-contd. |
Languages. |
1911. |
1931. |
1951. | |
Males. |
females. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. | |
English |
21 |
7 |
33 |
28 |
17 |
12 | |
*Naipali |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
16 |
4 | |
Bengali |
-- |
-- |
6 |
1 |
4 |
13 | |
*Kanjari |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
5 |
8 | |
Chinese |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
2 |
4 | |
Persian |
-- |
-- |
4 |
-- |
2 |
4 | |
*Oriya |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- | |
Western Hindi |
2 |
67 |
19,447 |
18,403 |
-- |
-- | |
Other Indian Languages. |
1,749 |
1,605 |
399 |
299 |
-- |
-- | |
Other European Languages. |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1 |
-- |
-- | |
Gipsy |
326 |
277 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
Sindhi |
20 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
Pashtu |
13 |
2 |
-- |
-- |
6 |
-- |
TABLE No. IV.
POPULATION BY RELIGION FROM 1881 TO 1951, DISTRICT KOLHAPUR. |
Religion. |
1881. |
1901. |
1911. | |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females | |
Hindus |
3,68,031 |
3,51,133 |
4,13,656 |
4,04,349 |
3,85,725 |
3,73,166 | |
Sikhs |
-- |
-- |
1 |
1 |
-- |
-- | |
Jains |
11,830 |
12,113 |
26,199 |
24,725 |
20,306 |
18,488 | |
Buddhists |
8 |
4 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
Zorastrians |
-- |
-- |
5 |
5 |
15 |
6 | |
Muslims |
20,554 |
20,866 |
19,821 |
18,732 |
17,272 |
16,058 | |
Christians |
652 |
601 |
1,192 |
1,325 |
1,117 |
1,288 | |
Jews |
4 |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- | |
Parsis |
1 |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
continued.
|
Religion. |
1921. |
1931. |
1951. |
|
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
|
Hindus |
3,88,698 |
3,69,048 |
4,43,033 |
4,23,615 |
5,59,838 |
5,44,813 |
|
Sikhs |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
30 |
1 |
|
Jains |
20,251 |
17,916 |
23,133 |
20,724 |
30,006 |
28,118 |
|
Buddhists |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
7 |
7 |
|
Zorastrians |
7 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
10 |
5 |
|
Muslims |
17,972 |
16,538 |
21,788 |
20,077 |
29,225 |
27,131 |
|
Christians |
1,615 |
1,678 |
2,375 |
2,384 |
4,305 |
4,051 |
|
Jews |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
|
Parsis |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
TABLE No. V.
POPULATION BY TALUKA IN 1951, RURAL AND URBAN-DISTRICT KOLHAPUR. |
Name of Taluka or Peta. |
Males. |
Females. |
Total. | |
Rural. |
Urban. |
Rural. |
Urban. |
Rural. |
Urban. | |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 | |
Ajra |
26,195 |
2,703 |
27,477 |
2,650 |
53,672 |
5,353 | |
Bavada |
24,912 |
-- |
28,010 |
-- |
52,922 |
-- | |
Bhudargad |
33,162 |
-- |
32,767 |
-- |
65,929 |
-- | |
Gadhinglaj |
51,922 |
4,381 |
50,929 |
4,165 |
1,02,851 |
8,546 | |
Hatkanangale |
54,911 |
33,043 |
41,604 |
30,142 |
1,06,515 |
63,185 | |
Kagal |
46,592 |
9,813 |
45,122 |
9,207 |
91,714 |
19,020 | |
Karvir |
66,013 |
71,360 |
63,451 |
65,475 |
1,29,464 |
1,36,833 | |
Panhala |
44,810 |
3,863 |
43,972 |
3,734 |
88,782 |
7,597 | |
Radhanagari |
44,375 |
-- |
42,830 |
-- |
87,205 |
-- | |
Shahuwadi |
41,592 |
1,693 |
41,874 |
1,606 |
83,466 |
3,299 | |
ShiroJ |
44,932 |
17,149 |
42,638 |
16,473 |
87,570 |
33,622 | |
District Total |
4,79,416 |
1,44,005 |
4,70,674 |
1,33,452 |
9,50,090 |
2,77,457 |
TABLE No. VI.
URBAN AREA, HOUSES AND INMATES 1951, DISTRICT KOLHAPUR.
|
Serial No. |
Name of village or town/ward. |
Area of village or town in square miles. |
Number of houses. |
Number of households. |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
Ajra |
3.0 |
805 |
992 |
2 |
Alte Kasaba |
12.2 |
845 |
1,065 |
3 |
Gadhinglaj |
9.9 |
1,277 |
1,519 |
4 |
Hupari |
6.6 |
989 |
1,262 |
5 |
Ichalkaranji |
8.7 |
2,618 |
5,503 |
6 |
Jaysingpur |
0.75 |
604 |
1,626 |
7 |
Kagal |
11.3 |
1,162 |
1,991 |
8 |
Kapashi |
3.4 |
631 |
759 |
9 |
Vadgaon Kasaba |
5.8 |
782 |
1,139 |
10 |
Kodoli Kasaba |
8.6 |
1,346 |
1,454 |
continued.
|
Serial No. |
Total number of persons enumerated (including inmates of institutions and houseless persons.) |
Number of inmates of institutions and houseless persons. |
Number of houses per square mile. |
Number of household per square mile. | |
Persons. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. | |
1 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
1 |
5,353 |
2,703 |
2,650 |
28 |
12 |
268.33 |
330.66 |
2 |
5,214 |
2,710 |
2,504 |
-- |
-- |
69.26 |
87.29 |
3 |
8,546 |
4,381 |
4,165 |
38 |
32 |
128.99 |
153.43 |
4 |
7,039 |
3,745 |
3,294 |
-- |
-- |
149.85 |
191.21 |
5 |
27,423 |
14,380 |
13,043 |
-- |
-- |
300.92 |
632.53 |
6 |
8,048 |
4,227 |
3,821 |
-- |
-- |
805.33 |
2,168.00 |
7 |
9,821 |
5,047 |
4,774 |
18 |
3 |
102.83 |
176.19 |
8 |
3,562 |
1,864 |
1,698 |
2 |
-- |
185.59 |
223.24 |
9 |
6,173 |
3,164 |
3,009 |
-- |
-- |
134.83 |
196.38 |
10 |
7,597 |
3,863 |
3,734 |
67 |
84 |
156.51 |
160.07 |
TABLE No. VI-contd.
|
Serial No. |
Name of village or town/ward. |
Area of village or town in square miles. |
Number of houses. |
number of Households. |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
Kolhapur |
24.8 |
22,247 |
27,214 |
12 |
Kimbhoj |
12.8 |
853 |
1,060 |
13 |
Kurundwad |
7.0 |
1,409 |
1,838 |
14 |
Malkapur |
10.3 |
420 |
641 |
15 |
Murgud |
4.5 |
819 |
1,061 |
16 |
Nandani |
6.5 |
992 |
1,108 |
17 |
Pattan Kodoli |
8.3 |
624 |
1,117 |
18 |
Rukadi |
6.4 |
925 |
1,046 |
19 |
Shirol |
14.9 |
1,303 |
2,062 |
|
Total |
165.75 |
40,651 |
54,457 |
continued.
|
Serial No. |
Total number of persons enumerated (including inamates of institutions and houseless persons.) |
Number of inmates of institutions and houseless persons. |
Number of Houses per square mile. |
Number of House hold per square mile. |
Persons. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
1 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
11 |
1,36,835 |
71,360 |
65,475 |
944 |
93 |
897.06 |
1,097.34 |
12 |
5,968 |
3,107 |
2,861 |
-- |
-- |
66.64 |
82.81 |
13 |
9,744 |
4,783 |
4,961 |
3 |
-- |
201.29 |
262.57 |
14 |
3,299 |
1,693 |
1,606 |
5 |
6 |
40.78 |
62.23 |
15 |
5,637 |
2,902 |
2,735 |
10 |
2 |
182.00 |
235.78 |
16 |
5,699 |
2,942 |
2,757 |
6 |
6 |
152.62 |
170.46 |
17 |
5,993 |
3,111 |
2,882 |
-- |
-- |
75.18 |
134.58 |
18 |
5,375 |
2,826 |
2,549 |
-- |
-- |
144.53 |
163.44 |
19 |
10,131 |
5,197 |
4,934 |
-- |
-- |
87.45 |
138.39 | |
2,77,457 |
1,44,005 |
1,33,452 |
1,121 |
238 |
245.25 |
328.55 |
TABLE No. VII.
RURAL AREA, HOUSES AND INMATES 1951, DISTRICT KOLHAPUR.
Serial No. |
Name of village or town/ward. |
Area of village or town in sq. miles. |
Number of houses. |
Number of households. |
1 |
Ajra |
202.3 |
7,917 |
9,846 |
2 |
Bavda (Peta) |
260.6 |
8,519 |
10,422 |
3 |
Bhudargad |
253.1 |
9,394 |
12,355 |
4 |
Gadhinglaj (Peta) |
181.8 |
15,297 |
18,699 |
5 |
Hatkanangale |
174.4 |
17,922 |
20,037 |
6 |
Kagal |
192.8 |
13,891 |
17,789 |
7 |
Karvir |
237.6 |
20,145 |
25,272 |
8 |
Panhala (Peta) |
209.7 |
14,074 |
16,999 |
9 |
Radhanagari |
344.5 |
12,382 |
16,824 |
10 |
Shahuwadi |
397.2 |
14,481 |
16,355 |
11 |
Shirol |
175.1 |
13,758 |
15,706 |
|
Total |
2,629.1 |
1,47,780 |
1,80,304 |
continued.
|
Serial No. |
Total Number of persons enumerated (including inmates of institutions and houseless persons). |
Number of inmates of institutions and houseless persons. |
Number of houses per sq. mile. |
Number of house holds per sq. mile. | |
Persons. |
Males. |
Females. |
Males. |
Females. |
1 |
53,672 |
26,195 |
27,477 |
140 |
114 |
39.13 |
48.67 |
2 |
52,922 |
24,912 |
28,010 |
55 |
20 |
32.69 |
39.99 |
3 |
65,929 |
33,162 |
32,767 |
275 |
246 |
37.12 |
48.81 |
4 |
1,02,851 |
51,922 |
50,929 |
322 |
264 |
84.14 |
102.85 |
5 |
1,06,515 |
54,911 |
51,604 |
-- |
-- |
102.76 |
114.89 |
6 |
91,714 |
46,592 |
45,122 |
195 |
150 |
72.05 |
92.27 |
7 |
1,29,464 |
66,013 |
63,451 |
326 |
149 |
84.79 |
106.36 |
8 |
88,782 |
44,810 |
43,972 |
58 |
58 |
67.11 |
81.06 |
9 |
87,205 |
44,375 |
42,830 |
155 |
123 |
35.94 |
48.84 |
10 |
83,466 |
41,592 |
41,874 |
134 |
112 |
36.46 |
41.18 |
11 |
87,570 |
44,932 |
42,638 |
3 |
95 |
78.57 |
89.71 | |
9,50,090 |
4,79,416 |
4,70,674 |
1,663 |
1,331 |
56.21 |
68.58 |
Urban and Rural Population.
Like other districts of the State, Kolhapur is essentially a district of villages. There are altogether 967 inhabited places in the district of which 948 are villages (excluding uninhabited villages and villages which form part of Municipal areas) and 19 towns including the city of Kolhapur. Out of the total district population 18.5 per cent, live in the urban area and the remaining 81.5 per cent. live in the rural area. Of the 19 towns only one i.e., Kolhapur has a population of more than one lakh-136,835. Kolhapur villages are villages of two classes walled and open. Some of the village walls are of burnt brick and mud and some are of stone and mud. Some old villages have stately gates and ruined fortifications. In most villages houses are not built in rows but are scattered all over the village site. Kunbis or husbandmen, Marathas, Jains and Lingayats form the bulk of the population. Dhangars (shepherds) and other herdsmen live with their herds on the hills. On the out skirts of the villages are the quarters of Harijans such as Mahars, Mangs, Cambhars and Dhors. In the following pages are described some of the customs and cultural traits of the two major community groups- Hindus and Muslims in the district, Hindus being further sub-divided into Vedic and non-Vedic, Jains and Lingayats. The backward classes including the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, are dealt with in a separate section.
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