The Bhavasar
are an ethnic group in India . They are
mostly located in the regions of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan while some
are also located in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Gujarati and
Rajasthani Bhavsars refer to themselves as just Bhavsars, while in Maharashtra
the community has bifurcated further and they refer to themselves variously as,
'Bhavsar Kshathriya', 'Bhavsar Shimpi', 'Nāmdev Shimpi.
The Bhavasar claim the Kshatriya varna, stating a legendary descent
from Kshatriyas who survived extermination by Parshuram by taking shelter in the temple of the
goddess Hingulaambikaa.
Traditionally, the Bhavsars are non vegetarians while the
Gujarati Bhavsars and Namdeo Shimpis in Maharashtra are vegetarians. The
Maharashtrian and Gujarati Bhavsars have their cuisines developed with a strong
influence of local cuisines in the respective states .The Bhavsars of Karnataka,Andhra
and Tamil Nadu are generally non
vegetarians and eat chicken,fish and lamb.