Ghangas

Ghanghas or Ghangus is gotra (clan) of Jats found in District Bhiwani, Panipat and Jind in Haryana, and Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, India. According to the historian Thakur Deshraj, the Gangaridais as mentioned by Meghasthenes are Ghangas gotra Jats, who lived near Garhmukteshwar area. Ptolemy has mentioned their capital at Ganga, which is the present Ganga-ghat city rear Ram-ghat.

Jandiala Guru, a town on Amritsar - Jalandhar GT Road (Grand Trunk Road) is populated with Ghangas Sikh Jats. Jandiala Guru (also known as Guru ka Jandiala) was founded by Ghangas Jats. It is part of District Amritsar, Punjab, India and is 16 Kilometers (10 miles) South of Amritsar.

The word Ghangas is derived from Ghan (hammer - sledge hammer) Ghas (to break or destroy). As per the folk legend, a holy man was imprisoned by a powerful but evil person of the area. Locals were fearful of supporting the holy man. Baba Handal took a blacksmith's hammer (Ghan) and broke open the lock (on the door) where the holy man was imprisoned. The holy man was helped by Baba Handal in defiance to the powerful evil person. Thus the descendents of Baba Handal were known as Ghanghas or Ghangas (both spellings are in use).

There is a popular Gurudwara to honor Baba Handal at his birthplace.

ee also

* Races as described by Megasthenes

References

*Thakur Deshraj: "Jat Itihasa" (Hindi), Maharaja Suraj Mal Smarak Shiksha Sansthan, Delhi, 1934, 2nd edition 1992. Page-143