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Tribal Life and Culture
Each of the tribes in Bihar comprises a number of clans. Member
of a particular clan are said to have descended from a common ancestor and bear
the same surname. Hence sexual relations between two persons of the same clan
are strictly prohibited. Almost all tribal villages in the state are inhabited
by two or more clans. Seldom does one come across a one clan village.
Marriage
All the tribals attach a great deal of importance to marriage.
Without marriage, nobody is regarded as a full member of the tribe. Manifold are
the systems of marriage prevalent among the tribals of Bihar. The most notable
of them all is Diku-Andi, which is arranged by go-betweens. Another important
form is Raji-Khushi, in which boys and girls take the initiative. Marriage by
capture is rare. Sometimes a young woman may intrude into the house of her
beloved and refuse to leave it and thus force him to accept her as his bride.
This form of marriage be called 'Marriage by intrusion'. There is a marriage by
service in which poor youths who have no money to pay bride price serve the
beloved's father for a certain period and thus obtain her consent to their
marriage. In most of the tribal areas of the state, adult marriage prevails. In
some parts of the state, the age of marriage has gone down under the
impact of Hindu culture. Monogamy is the general rule,
polygamy is not
prohibited.
The primary unit of social organization among the tribes is the
family which is made up of their unmarried children. Descent is reckoned in the
male line, daughters being deprived of the right to patrimony. The women in
tribal culture do not possess the right to landed property. They are entitled to
the possession of all kinds of moveable property which they can dispose of
whenever they like. They also have the right to participate in the proceedings
of tribal councils. Divorce and widow re-marriage are permissible according to
the tribal law. They will call for the approval of the panchayats.
Food
The staple food of the Aboriginals is boiled rice, which they
eat with cooked pulse popularly known as dal. They uses pulses of different
kinds which they produce in the kitchen-garden attached to their houses. They
all eat goats, sheep, fowls and pigs, but very rarely do they drink
milk. They are immensely fond of liquor and they brew a sort of rice-beer
commonly known as Handia which is said to be highly refreshing and invigorating
and has great importance in their religious rites.
Dress and Ornaments
Simplicity and plainness are the twin characteristics of the
dress of the tribal people. Most of them use a narrow piece of cloth tied round
the waist. They keep two sets of dresses one for home and the other for outside
wear. They wear dhotis and saris while going out. Tribal ,women are excessively
found of ornaments. They have a craze for hansli (a kind of necklace made of
silver) brass bracelets and silver earrings. They are famed for keeping their
hair tidy by applying mustard or mouha oil and combing it regularly. Tattooing
the forehead arms and legs is a common practice with them. This custom is
originated from their age old belief in magic.
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