The Kharwa-Khalasi or sailors are a bold and enterprising community. Most part of their life is spent in the mid-sea. They accustom themselves with the ups and downs of the life like the sea-waves and accept the uncertainties of life with no complains.
        Navigation at small scale is the main occupation of the Kharwa community. They transport different kinds of goods and commodities to far flung areas in small boats or medium-size vessels.
        They spend almost eight months of the year in the same way. They are at home or unemployed during the four months of monsoon. Their life is by and large unsteady and risky. The family is always worried about their safe return from the long journey.
        The Kharwa community is hardly economically well-off. Very few Kharwas have the boat or a vessel of their own. Most of them are employed on contractual basis. The community lives nearby the coastal areas of Gujarat and Saurashtra.
        The Kharwa-Khalasi of Saurashtra wears breeches, shirts and a turban. In Gujarat, they wear short dhoti. Time has effected many changes in their pattern of dress. Some sailors now put on trousers and shirts too. They use old and worn-out clothes, when they are on sail.
        The women put on simple dress like a petticoat; a blouse and a thin cloth like a short saree. Some women wear the saree like a dhoti. Their ornaments inlcude bangles, earrings, nose-ring and round rods in the legs.
        Fishing, making of nets and ship-building are other occupations of the Kharwas. Women too remain active in all such jobs. The Kharwas love to play Raas during festivals like Holi and Navratri. Kharwa women were known for their tippani dance at one time. They also sing bhajans and perform the rituals to Satyanarayana. They perform pooja of Ramdeo Pir on Kali Chaudash, offer prayers to Humans and their ancestral deity. Kharwas are by and large non-vegetarians. Some kharwas do eat fish and eggs.