India Religious Records

Asia India

Hindu Pilgrimage (Bahi)
Research use: Establishes individual identity and linkage back many generations. Indexes by name facilitate research.

Record type: Hindu Pilgrimage or Bahi: Record of Hindus who make pilgrimages to sacred centers in India where certain religious rituals or ordinances are performed.

Time period: Some written records date back as far as the 15th Century. However, the great majority are of the 18th Century to the present.

Contents: Name of Pilgrim, caste/occupation, birthplace, or family origin, present residence, father, grandfather, great grandfather, etc., sometimes going back many generations on both the maternal and paternal sides. Often names of sons, brothers, nephews, and cousins are given, each relationship being carefully and precisely indicated. Date of visit or register entry is given.

Location: Located in the homes and “offices” of the Panda (Hindu combination priest-businessman) in cities and towns scattered all over India but primarily in the North. The sacred centers are located in the states of Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Most of the centers are in Uttar Pradesh. There is one site in the south in the area of the city of Madura in the state of Tamil Nadu.

Population coverage: 42%

Reliability: Excellent



Muslim Pilgrimage (Vahi)
Research use: Establishes individual identity and linkage back many generations. There may be indexes which will facilitate the use of the records.

Record type: Muslim Pilgrimage or Vahi: Record of Muslim pilgrims who visit certain centers in India where rituals are performed.

Time period: 1400 to present

Contents: Undetermined at present. Likely to be similar to Hindu Bahi.

Location: Northern India in homes and “offices” of Muslim family bards.

Population coverage: 10%

Reliability: Excellent

Islamic marriages
Research use: Establishes individual identity and linkage back two generations. Theoretically generations could be identified back to when the keeping of the record started.

Record type: Islamic marriage (civil registration) record or Kadi: A marriage record kept of Islamic marriages.

Time period: 1500 to present

Contents: Names, ages, and residences of bride and bridegroom. Names and sometimes occupation of father and grandfather. Date of event. Signature of bridegroom. Names and residences of witnesses and names of witnesses fathers. Amount of dower money.

Location: Located in Mosques and in the houses of the Kazi who is the marriage registrar and judge.

Population: 10%

Reliability: Excellent