Tribal Festivals in Orissa

According to the Census Report of 1991, around 22% of the total population of Orissa is comprised of tribal communities. These communities are sixty-two in number. Being very religious minded, these tribes celebrate a number of tribal festivals in Orissa. The rituals and festivities that are a part of these tribal celebrations provide a window to the age-old customs and traditions of tribes in Orissa.

Some of the most popular tribal festivals celebrated in the state are as follows.

Bali Jatra
The Koraput tribal communities of Orissa celebrate Bali Jatra festival on the same day as that of Karama Festival. The festival begins on the 11thday of the Bhadrab month and continues till the full moon. Putting on fancy dresses, merrymaking, drinking, dancing and singing are all part of the Bali Jatra festival in Orissa.

Karama Festival
Also spelt 'Karam' the Karama Festival is celebrated by Ho, Kisan, Kol, Bhumij, Oraon, Bhuiyan and Binjhals tribes of Orissa. Not only by tribal communities of Orissa, but the Karama Festival is also a part of the life of aboriginal people in the states of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The festival takes place in Bhadrab month during rainy season. Communities go to jungle along with drummers, cut the branches of Karma tree, bring it back to village and then a ritual follows which also include killing of a fowl and offering its blood to the branch.

Sume Gerilak
This is much-awaited tribal festival celebrated by the Bondas of Koraput. Sume Geralik Festival begins on a Sunday and carries on for 10 days. The tribal people start with worshipping godlings and demons. Later, the priest performs the sacrificing ritual of animals and birds. Singing and dancing expedition are the fun part of this tribal festival. One unique ritual is the striking of boys (each other standing face to face) with pliant tree branches till the last limit. Next, they embrace each other as the priest delivers a message of friendship and love. All of this happens amidst loud beating of drums.

Bija Pandu
Koya tribal communities celebrated the Bija Pandu Festival. These tribal people inhabit the Koya village, located amid dense forests. The festival begins with worshiping of Godling and sacrificing of animals and birds. As a part of the festival celebration, people go out hunting and fishing to return before dark, while women wait for them at home. A special dance is also performed by tribal men and women, decorated with traditional costumes.

Kendu Festival
An important festival of the Kondh tribe (Phulbani), Kendu festival was known for 'human sacrifice' or 'Meria' in their language. The ritual was, however, banned during the British Rule. The 'human sacrificing' was replaced with 'buffalo sacrificing'.

Chaita Parva
Not only by the tribal people of Koraput, but Chaita Parva is also celebrated by the Bhuiyan tribe of Mayurbhanj, Sudargarh and Keonjhar. Festivities continue for a whole month. Men go out hunting, bring back animals and meat is distributed among all villages. Animal sacrificing is done. People sing, drink and dance whole heartedly.

Maghe Parab
This is an important harvest festival. Maghe Parab festival is the most significant festival of tribes including Ho, Oraon, Kisan and Kol. The tribal festival is celebrated to pay tribute to the village deity. As part of the ritual, a black fowl is sacrificed and 'mahua' liquor is offered to the deity. People wear new dresses, drink, sing and dance together.

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Oraon Tribes in India

Tribals in India constitute around eight per cent of the total population. Oraon is one of the tribal communities found in India, which mainly depends on agriculture for earning their living. They are also known as Kurukh tribes. These tribes are mainly found in the states of Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. In the ancient days, Oraons used to make their living by chopping timber and selling forest products. Majority of the population of Oraons can be found in Northeastern states engaged in the occupation of tea cultivation.

Oraons are considered to have the second largest population of tribes in Bihar and Jharkhand. Efficient, particularly in tea garden works, Oraons are believed to have settled in the Chotanagpur Plateau centuries ago. Oraons speak Kurukh language related to Dravidian family. Majority of the Oraon tribes are Hindus and are religious minded people. They worship Gods and Goddesses but a great number of these tribes have adopted Christianity. In the ancient days, this community used to follow Sarna religion.

Oraons are further divided into sub-castes like Kudas and Kisans, who follow Patrilineal family customs. There are a total of 14 clans in Oraon tribal community like, Gari, Lakra, Kispotta, Runda, Tirky, Toppo, Linda, Ekka, Kuzur, Bek, Kerketta, Bandi, Minz and Khalkho. This tribal community in India is also known world wide as they still believe in following age old custom of human sacrifice. These sacrifices are carried out during the famous Sarhul festival celebrated before cultivation of crops, as a mark of respect to please the local deity.

Festivals have been a part of life for tribals since ancient time. Sarhul and Karma are the two main important festivals of these tribals. They are also very fond of music and dance. Karma, Jadur, Dassai and Kagha Parva are their most favorite dances. Traditional instruments like Nagara, Kartal and Mandar are still used by these people.

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Garo Tribes of Meghalaya

Meghalaya, one of the seven sister states of North East India, is inhabited largely by tribes. After Khasi, Garo comprise the largest population of tribes in Meghalaya. Most of these tribes habitat in Garo hills of Meghalaya, as the name depicts itself. Other than Meghalaya a sizeable population of these tribes can also be found in other states like Assam, Tripura, West Bengal and Bangladesh.

It is believed that Garos migrated to Meghalaya about 400 years ago from Tibet. Garo people are also known by the name of 'Achik-mande' or hill people. As almost all the states in North East India were explored by Christian Missionaries, most of the Garos adopted Christianity. These tribes speak Garo language, which is also further divided into different sub-languages or dialects.

In Garo tribes, women are the owners of property thus making it a matrilineal society. There is a custom where the youngest daughter inherits the property from her mother and man shifts to his wife's place after getting married.

These tribes are also lovers of music and dance. They use various traditional musical instruments like stringed instruments, wind instruments and self sounding instruments. Men flaunt turban with clothes in villages. Whereas, blouse and a cloth tied around their waist is worn by Garo women. They also love to wear traditional jewellery made of beads and other material.

Garos also celebrate different festivals. Wangala is one of the significant festivals of these tribes which is generally celebrated in the month of October. This festival is celebrated after the harvest of crops as thanks giving ceremony to their deity Salijong. Rice is the staple food of Garos and most of them are non-vegetarians. They also make liquor at home from food grains. Their main cultivation crops include rice, ginger, millet, bananas, vegetables, pepper, chilli and cotton.

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Gujjar Tribes in India

Gujjars are one of the communities of tribes inhabiting in India. Gujjars mainly inhabit in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. These tribes can be found mainly following Hindu and Muslim religions.

It is believed that Gujjars were the original inhabitants of Gurjia or Georgia. They came across Iraq, Iran, Central Asia, Afganistan and Pakistan to Gujarat, way back in 5th and 6th centuries. Some also believe that Gujjars were earlier Rajputs and they changed their religion to Islam after losing to Aurangzeb in battle.

Gujjars come in the category of semi-nomadic tribes and their main occupation is herding of goats, sheep and buffaloes. Semi-nomadic people of Gujjar community are in the habit of migrating to upper parts of Himalayas along with their cattle during the summer season and back to the plains with the onset of chilly winters.

As Gujjars keep on moving from one place to another, they move with their families and thus have very rare permanent settlements. Wherever they go, they reside in shacks or huts made of grass, wood or bamboos as per the availability of raw materials. They sell milk, ghee and their cattle to make their living.

Gujjars, who are now-a-days mainly found in the Northern parts of India, speak Hindi, Urdu, Kashmiri, Dogri and Pahari. They are the tribes who strictly follow old traditions and customs. They still follow custom of early marriages, where girls are married at an age of 14 – 15 years and boys at 17-18 years. Mostly they depend on milk products as their staple food besides cereals, wheat and maize. They may be vegetarians and non-vegetarians as well.

Gujjars wear their traditional dresses. Men adorn turbans on their heads in Mughal style along with long and loose 'Kurtas' or shirts with 'Salwars'. Over the shirt they wear vest-coat called 'Basket'. They also wrap 'Chaddar' or shawl around their shoulders to save them from cold. Whereas, women wear loose 'Kurta' (shirt) having collars and cuffs along with 'Suthan' or 'Salwars' in Churidar style. They flaunt vest-coat over 'Kurta' like men . Women also wrap a 'Chaddar' around their heads which is also called as 'Neelak'. Both men and women wear 'Desi Juttis' or shoes. Gujjar women are also fond of jewelery like necklace, nose rings and ear rings mainly made of silver.

Now-a-days, there has been a change in the lifestyle of Gujjars also like other tribes, with the change of time. In the olden days where they used to be illiterate because of their nomadic life, now some of them have started dwelling in permanent settlements and impart education to their children.

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Gaddi Tribes of Himachal Pradesh

Gaddi Tribes constitute a sizeable population of tribes habitating in Himachal Pradesh. These tribes mainly dwell around Dhauladhar mountain range, Chamba, Bharmaur and the areas near to Dharamshala. It is believed that these people migrated to the foothills of Himalayas from Central Asia, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is also believed that some castes of Gaddi tribes ran away and took shelter in hills because of the threat of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in 17th century.

The pace of evolving changes with time, in contemporary society, has also affected the living style of Gaddi tribes, which poses a great threat to their culture, costume, jewellery, folklore and lifestyle. Characteristics of Gaddis are diminishing fast because of the cultural invasion by other communities.

The main occupation of Gaddi tribes is shepherding and they make their livelihood by rearing and selling sheeps, goats, mules and horses. Though these tribes were more nomadic in older days but now they have made their settlements in the villages and make seasonal movements with their livestock to pastures in upper hills during summer season and to the foothills in chilly winters. Now people from Gaddi community have also started adopting several other occupations for earning their livelihood.

Related with the occupation of sheep grazing, Gaddis flaunt woolen attire made of sheep wool, like woolen pyjamas (trousers), long coats, dhoru (woolen sari), caps and shoes made up of wool and goat hair. Even sheep wool is also used for making shawls, blankets and carpets which are spun in traditional style at homes as they are expert in weaving. Gaddi women are also fond of jewellery made of semi precious stones, gold and silver.

Though most of the Gaddi community is Hindu, but one can also find Muslim Gaddis in the upper areas of Chamba and Lahaul Spiti districts. Where these tribes speak in local dialects, they can also understand and converse in Hindi as well. Gaddis are also known for their simple living style and are religious. Most of them still practice their old traditions and customs. They are also fond of music and dance and their important fairs are Minjar, Bharmaur Jatra and Sui Mela. They are worshipers of Lord Shiva and also celebrate Shivratri festival with pomp and show.

Most of the people in Gaddi tribe are non-vegetarians and they also consume goat milk. Though in the earlier days child marriages and polygamy were in practice but with the change in lifestyle the community has also grown up educationally.

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Sign and Symbols in Tribal Culture

Tribal culture speculate the complex religion and strange beliefs. All the various tribal communities, narrows down to one common facts- a real world outlined with countless myths. Since time immemorial, the concept of understanding nature and the style of living life has underwent several changes. But yet, many tribal folks are not behind to pass on their ancestral belief to the their next generation. A very interesting way to unfold their culture, is to brief out the sign and symbols, which represents the status and style within the society.

Tattoos: The use of tattoos in tribal community speaks a lot in terms of of the origin and the social hierarchy of a person, who wears it. It is said, a person bearing big and complex tattoo is superior as compared to one with simple one. As per the tribal rituals, tattoo describes the age and sex of an individual. Also, in some tribes, males ink their body-parts with the totem animals and believe that they inherit the power of the tattooed animal. The Toda women tattooed in patterns of dots and circle, expresses their adulthood, whereas, scar in the male's wrist or elbows, certifies him for milking buffaloes.

Wooden articles: Males in Naga tribal community display their status symbol by wearing wooden carved head gears in any of their festivals or dance acts. According to them, it symbolizes their bravery and status. Horned head dresses, intricate with animal teeth and beaks are believed to enhance the power and prestige of the wearer. Many carry the proud occupation of carving drinking mugs, smoking pipes and morung pillars, flourished with the sign of powerful wild animals like tigers, buffaloes etc or symbol of warriors and weapons.

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Tribal Myths in North-Eastern India

North Eastern India, features the diverse ethnic culture and linguistic states from other states of the country. Among the various existing tribal colony in its states and territories, the Naga Tribe of Nagaland is famous for their mythic belief, ruling their caste and religion. Lets get a snippet of what surprising facts, underline their fairs and festivals.

The Naga Tribes believe to worship the God of Earthquake, who according to them is the supreme creator of earth out of water and the Son of this God guides the mankind. They strongly believe that God lives in the midst of mountains, dense forest, underneath the rivers and lakes. And as such, a series of rituals take place among the social groups. They erect a typical stone monuments nearby their houses, with the sole belief of family protection against any evil spirit.

Tribal carry the myths of witchcraft and unconscious dreams, that they can give their utmost input to fulfill them. A strange practice of slaughtering lies in their community. Some groups sacrifice their dogs or pigs before the onset of their wood carving or farming. The age-old head-hunting was prime concern for growing fertile crops and as such they were largely depended on sprinkling animal blood over the fields. But the cruel practice ceased in the early 20th century, thereby, indicating the extinction of social stigma.

Naga people belief the philosophy of rebirth and as such the dead are buried in the direction from which their ancestors have come. Many built a separate grave-yard before their death, while in some case, the burial takes place in the house premises, only.

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Tribal Bhagoriya Festival

Madhya Pradesh is an exotic tribal habitat, in the Central Region of India. Popularly known as the getaways to Khajuraho temples, this historic place on the heart of the Mother India constitutes about 23 % tribes of the total state population. Many of the isolated land in Madhya Pradesh is embellished with the spectacular fairs and festivals. One very unique festival named Bhagoriya is outlined with strange facts and beliefs.

Bhagoriya literary means to elope. This festival is highly celebrated by the Bhils populace in the Jhabua region of the state. The merriment is dedicated to the worship of Bahgoradav(God of dance) and is held one week before the festival of color, Holi. This very popular tribal festival highlights the love, romance and marriage among the tribal folks.

According to the rituals of the festival, Bhil youths indulge themselves in meeting their future spouse. Unmarried men go around, applying color to his loved ones and if the girl reciprocates her sentiment, she applies color in return. Also the mutual exchange of betel leaf declares the loving environment. After this ritualistic permission, both the lovers are allowed to elope into some alien land so as to spend moments together. The marriage then get eventually salmonized and a warm welcome is presented to the newly wed couples.

The Bhagoriya festival, also features the cultural dance programmes, performed according to the rhythm of the drum-beats and thalis. It is also celebrated greatly by the tribes of Chhattisgarh in India.

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Tribes in Tripura (North-East India)

Tucked away in the hilly land of North-eastern region of India, Tripura is the inhabiting land of a number of tribes. Around 19 prominent hills of the state is clogged with tribal community and a rough estimate of 31 % of the state population counts the tribal folk. The Chaimal, Halam, Jamatia, Lepcha, Riang, Tippera and the Tripuri, contribute to the some total of the existing culture and heritage of Tripura . And the most interesting part is their cordial relation amongst each other in balancing the tradition of wood carving, bamboo and cane works.

Other then using the common 'Kokborok' conversing language, other beautiful dialects help them maintain the interactive session. The tribes of Tripura are highly inclined to religious and spiritual believes. With the presiding deity “ Tripura Sundari” the tribal believe the place to be linked with the epic era of Mahabharata. The important tribal festival, Karchi Puja, dedicated to the 14 Gods is held every year during the month of July. In addition to the tribal folks, Bengali populace residing there also bow their head before the divine idols.

The tribal women in Tripura are much more stylish then their men. Women wrap the lower portion of the body with 'Ringai' whereas they cover the upper half with 'Risa' and 'Rikuttu'.The 'Ringai' pattern and the dangling silver and metal jewelery in their body is the way to differentiate one tribes from another.

Tribes in Tripura are very much fond of non-vegetarian cuisines, specially made of fermented fish. The merriment includes the boiled meat of pork, chicken, mutton, beef, turtle, fish, crabs, prawns, frogs and even dogs.

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Madari Tribe or the Snake Charmer

Madari are a nomadic tribe, popularly known as snake-charmer. They are believed to be the offspring of Rajput father and Muslim mother. Their verbal interaction takes place in Gujarati and Hindi language. This tribal populace can be examined with a visit to Gujarat and the tribal villages in Assam.

The Madari tribal folk are skillful in trapping the snakes, monkeys and Sloth bear, which help them organize some local programmes and earn a few penny. While many of them fill their breadbasket with snake-charming and jugglery, some of them deals in selling indigenous medicinal herbs. This 'Desi Jari Butiwala', sometimes, moves from place to place with their trapped animals, entertain people and also sell the herbal medicines.

The Madari tribe do not observe regular rites and rituals. The only celebration takes place during after the marriage ceremony and after the birth of the child. The festive mood jazzed with the a grand feast and with the local drinks, offered to the panch(council of caste leaders) members during the occasion. An interesting fact lies in their diet type that this tribes have strong affinity towards non-vegetarian cuisines but strictly restrict themselves to vegetarian food-staff during their merriment.

Madaris are in between the Hindu and Muslim religion. The rituals following the birth and life highlights the influence of Hindu culture, while the rites after the dead gets merged with rules as per the Muslim religion. The dead are buried in the earth and a stretching observance of 12 days ends up with the arrangement of community feast.

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