Bhāṭṛā

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Bhāṭṛā, N. Indian pedlar community claiming brahman descent. They trace their origin to Mādho Mal of Śri Lankā, whose descendant, Chaṅgā Bhāṭṛā, reputedly became a disciple of Gurū Nānak. Many Bhāṭṛās are Sikhs. There is no intermarriage between Bhāṭṛā Sikhs and Sikhs of other castes, and in some cities they have formed separate gurdwārās.