Bhil tribe

Bhil
It is one of the largest tribe of India whose population is 53,38,972 ((1991 census) and
sex ratio is 1: 1.
They are living in Ratlam and Jhabua districts of Madhya Pradesh State, Dahod and
Ahmedabad districts of Gujarat State, Dungerpur, Banswara and Udaipur districts of
Rajasthan State and adjacent district of Maharashtra State.
Bhil live in Tekri (small mountain) where they make Fala (few huts). Pall (village) is the
result of Fala (vaselu is the name of family).
They are divided in many Akar (lineage) and a male chief heads every family (patriarchal
society).
It is a Dravidian tribe (black skin, curly hair) whose language is Bhilli (collective
language of four states in which Mundari and Dravidian influence is clearly visible). The
word Bhil is originated from Beel (Dravidian for a person who has bow). Bhil is the
synonym of bow.
Bhil is an agricultural tribe and it is described in Ramayana (the Bhil helped Lord Rama)
and in medieval Indian history (the Bhil helped Rana Pratap - a great king of Rajasthan,
against the battle of Mughal emperor Akbar).
Birth Ceremony
Bhil never celebrate the birth of the girl child. They celebrate the birth of the male child.
Sathar – a ritual celebrated at the seventh month of the pregnancy. The pregnant woman
and her family worship and offer sweets the family goddess. Bulava (another ritual) is
conducted at the time of birth when dinner and liquor (made from Mahua seeds) are
served to community men. Pregnant woman follows some prohibition during pregnancy
till birth.
Marriage Ceremony
They are lineage exogamous monogamy group. Inter caste marriage is strictly banned
and bride wealth is the base of marriage they don’t prefer marriage in 5 to 7 generations
of both sides (as in case of Hindu marriage). Nuclear family is the result of marriage.
Preferential marriages (cross cousin and parallel cousin marriage) are preferred. Widow
marriage, levirate and surrogate marriages are in practice. Divorce is not unusual but
children are the responsibility of father. In the case of inter caste marriage, concerned
couple pay compensation to the panchayat. Applying vermilion paste in the middle of the
head of bride by the groom (as is in the case of Hindus) completes the marriage. Bhagoria
(elopement) marriage is very common.
Death Ceremony
They burn the dead person. Bhoj - a ritual in which food is given daily to dead person’s
soul throughout year after the death. They consider the soul of dead person as a purvaj
(forefather). On the tenth day they give a dinner to community men in the honor of dead
person. They make a menhir (a stone in upright position) at the cremation place.
Economy
Property is inherited from father to son but eldest son gets maximum and youngest
minimum. If widow and unmarried daughter are concerned with any son, he gets more
property for their care. They are cultivators who produce rice, sugarcane, pulses, mustard
and wheat. Helma (co-operation during agriculture) is very popular among them. They
are also engaged in woodcutting, beehive husbandry, and collection of mahua seeds and
fishing, animal husbandry.
Education
23% of the Bhil are literate and 2% are in government service. They are very much aware
about education, because they want to approach modern life. More than three dozen
schools (primary, high school and intermediate colleges) are in their locality of four
states.
Religion
They are Hindus and are devotees of Lord Shiva & Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva).
Their goddesses are Jal Devi (water goddess), Parbat Devta (mountain god). They
worship sprits and their forefathers as god and goddess. Pho-pho or Badve (priest) plays
main role in religious activities. Witchcraft tradition in frequent among them.
Jatra is the main fair of Bhil. They celebrate all Hindu festival and Gole Gadhero (a ritual
for selection of males for marriage) is celebrated at the month of March and April. Gavri
dance, a symbolic dance of Shiva and Parvati is very popular among them.
With the effect of education and great historical background they are proceeding towards
urban life. Bhil of the state of Madhaya Pradesh are availing many government facilities
(train for trading phone, urban market,) for their betterment. The process of
sanskritization is visible. 40% Bhil male are engaged as gangmen and patrol man in
railway organization
Langotia Bhil, Ujle Bhil and Kale Bhil have same socio - cultured life of different states.