The Dom have an oral tradition and express their
culture and history through music, poetry, and dance. Initially, it was believed that they were a branch of the
Romani people, but recent studies of the Domari language suggest that they departed from the
Indian subcontinent at different times and using different routes. Among the various Domari subgroups, they were initially part of
Ghawazi who were known for their dancing and music business. Some
Muslim Roma may share Dom ancestry too, because in the travel book
Seyahatnâme, written by the
Ottoman Turkish traveller
Evliya Çelebi in 1668, he explained that the Romani from
Komotini (Gümülcine) believe that their ancestors originated in
Ottoman Egypt. Also the sedentary Romani groups from
Serres region in Greece believe their ancestors were once taken from Ottoman Egypt by the Turks after 1517 to
Rumelia, to work on the tobacco plantations of Turkish feudal landlords that were based there.
Muslim Roma settled in
Baranya and the city of
Pécs in southwestern
Hungary. After the
Siege of Pécs (1686), when the
Habsburgs took it back, Muslim Roma and some other Muslim ethnic minorities
abandoned Islam and
converted to Christianity, choosing the
Roman Catholic faith in the years 1686–1713. The Ghagar, a subgroup of the
Doms in Egypt, say that some of them went to Hungary. Domari cuisine includes dishes such as Kufta bi Tahineh (meatballs in tahini sauce),
musakhan (chicken with caramelized onions and almonds served on flatbread), and danan al aut (delicate dumplings). Reflecting their nomadic past and present-day community in Jerusalem, Domari cooking features spices from diverse regions and commonly uses seasonal vegetables, rice, and meat. The Domari Society, a non-profit organization based in Jerusalem, supports this distinctive culinary tradition by offering traditional Domari meals prepared by women from the community. Domari cuisine includes dishes influenced by local
Arab cuisine and
Palestinian cuisine, such as stuffed vegetables like Mahshi Beitinjan and Kusa. Common ingredients include olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice, curry leaves, and dried mint. In Domari culture, food is not just about cooking but also about hospitality and sharing meals within the community. Despite living in very poor conditions, the Domari people value inviting others to eat together, as it brings happiness to all. Their spices originate from the various regions where nomadic Domari Gypsies have lived and have been handed down through generations. Historically, earlier generations of the Dom were nomadic, engaging in nomadic professions such as blacksmithing, horse trading, music, dance, and animal healing. However, for more than a century, the Dom community has adopted a sedentary way of life. ==Language==