Mali caste
Persons bearing surname Mali are a largely farmers caste. They besides farming also work as gardeners and florists (Phul Mali) due to their occupation of growing flowers. They are found throughout undivided North India now Pakistan, East India in Uttarakhand (A largely military province) as well as other parts of India. Many from Mali community adopted surname Saini abbreviated form of Sainik during 1930s when India was under British colonial rule. Most are Hindus. Some belong to other religions including sikhism for example see . Mali Caste of Uttarakhand. Besides possible original Mali / Saini residents of Uttarakhand state of  India, intermarriages between families of Uttarakhand especially Almora introduced new groups of Saini persons into Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It is probably for this reason that there are now many tall dark complexioned Saini persons in and around an otherwise largely fair complexioned district. This latter group has customs and language similar to Mali/ Saini communities of Jaipur, Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts. Mali caste of Maharashtra. The present day Mali community of Maharashtra are largely cultivators specializing in horticulture. This community is concentrated in five districts of Western Maharashtra and a district in the Vidarbha region. They traditionally made  their living by cultivating fruit, flowers and vegetables. The community reveres the Varkari saint, Savata Mali. Mali caste of Maharashtra classified under other back classes (OBC) and therefore qualify for quotas set for OBC groups in jobs, education and local government under affirmative action or reservation schemes. Mali Caste of Rajasthan. The Mali/Saini Caste of Rajasthan is prevalent in large numbers in present districts of Jodhpur and Jaipur and Sawai Madhopur. In smaller numbers they are also presentbim other parts of Rajasthan as well as neighboring states of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Although perhaps of high caste origin  in distant past, in many parts of modern India, the Mali community is now regarded as belonging to backward castes, for example, a prominent minister of Uttar Pradesh State of India - Dharam Singh Saini (The Times of India, Vol. XV No.12 , Jaipur, Friday, January 14, 2022)