Gowala (caste)

Gowala (also spelled as Goala) is a subcaste of Ahir/Yadav community, found from Indian state of Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh and the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh. Traditionally they are herdsman or milkman and considered as a prosperous community.

Mythological Origin
The Gowalas are closely associated with Krishna and consider themselves to be descendants of Raja Yadu. By 1910s they became the part of Yadav community as part of Sanskritisation.