The
Dogras (
Dogri: डोगरा / ڈوگرا) are an
Indo-Aryan ethno-linguistic group in
India and
Pakistan. Being a diversified group, the Dogras include both
savarnas such as
Brahmins,
Rajputs,
Vaishyas and non-savarnas.
Dogra Rajputs are claimed and believed by religious Hindus to be
Suryavanshi along with
Chandravanshi Rajputs of
Chattari origin. They ruled Kashmir from the 19th century, when Gulab Singh was made Governor General of Kashmir by the Sikh Emperor Maharaja Ranjit Singh, till independence. They live predominantly in the Jammu region of
Jammu and Kashmir but also in adjoining areas of
Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh, and northeastern Pakistan. The Brahmin Dogras are predominantly
Saraswat Brahmins, genetically of common origin with Saraswat Brahmin of Kashmir. They speak their own language,
Dogri, which was recognized as one of the official
languages of India in 2003. Most Dogras are
Hindus, however some are
Muslims.