Raji tribe

Raji
It is a lesser tribal group of Uttaranchal, whose population is 504 (1991 census). 259
males and 246 females show that the sex ratio is approximately 1:1. They inhabit the
Pittauragragh and Nainital districts of the Uttaranchal state. They live in dense forest.
They are known as Bankirat or lord of the forest with Mongolian character.
The total number of families is 132 and the family size is 3 to 5.
Birth Ceremony (Nagna gagan Chihi)
They don’t follow any birth ceremony until six months after the birth due to high
mortality rate of the infants. The oldest woman of the clan proposes the name of the
issue.
Marriage Ceremony
It is a monogamous group. Marriage is done by a simple Hindu method, but bride wealth
is in practice. They do not use liquor in their life. Neolocal (newly married couples) live
separately from their parents. Custom in general practice is that, Bijaula–Bijauli
(bridegroom & bride) worship their god at the end of the marriage with vermilion. Pariburi
(widow) marriage is in practice. Pandit has no role in their marriage.
Death ceremony
They bury the dead people. This ceremony completes in three days. Tiopani – a dead
man’s village shave their heads and take a bhoj (dinner) at the door of the dead person.
They leave the place or home, where the death occurs. This activity makes their living
style temporary.
Chand, Pal, Bist, Rautela, dhani, Berwal are their gotras.
They are mainly cultivators. It is very first tribe in which every family has obtained a
government house and agricultural land. Houses are double storied. The ground floor is
for the cattle and the top floor for their living.
Political Organization
The old men of the community constitute Panchayat, but has been replaced by the village
committee. The head (Sarpanch) is empowered by the government for handling small
disputes and punishments. The main disputes are land based.
Economy
Their economy is mainly based on agriculture but two Raji are in government service.
Eight are engaged in carpentry. Due to the influence of social welfare department, they
now use new agricultural equipment instead of the old axe or the plough and they
produce malta (orange), lemon and nuts. The main agricultural products are rice, wheat,
gram and popcorn (300 kg per acre). Fishing is another important economic pillar. Their
annual income is approximately Rs. 10,000/- p.a. but 70.37% of the total population is
living under the poverty line (1991 census).
Education
Raji are an illiterate group but currently a primary school in Kimkhola village of
Pittauragragh district is going on with 29 children. 74.80 % are illiterate (1991 census).
Religion
Basically they are Hindus, but their traditional Gods and Goddess are Chhurmul, Bhumia
devi, Ganianath, Mananath, Balchand, Malkajan, Hulsikal and Jaldevi, the forest god
(Churmul) is in the prime locus of their life.
Festivals
Apart from the Hindu festivals, they celebrate Joaljivi fair in the month of October. They
have full faith in magic sorcery and witchcraft tradition.
Presently they understand the utility of education, health, etc. So in the 8th five-year plan,
81 families have taken government assistance for their agricultural betterment, house and
education development. Nowadays, five Rajis are taking civil defense training as fourth
class employees. With the development of roads and communication, many changes are
affecting the people of the border areas. Due to the expansion of panchayati raj up to their
villages, every family has incorporated the new techniques of agriculture and cattle
rearing. But their population is decreasing day by day. In 1971, their population was 1918
but today they are 504. The government to save their lives launched many health
programmes. Till the 1906, they used to cover themselves with Malu (leaves and barks of
trees), where as now they are seen wearing Bahunia vahii (cloth). At the beginning of the
century, they lived in Mauvas (caves). A few decades back they used they use to leave
crudely made wooden theki, pala (a type of bowls), etc. at their doorsteps at night along
with symbols indicating the items they desired in exchange and they stealthily visited the
spot on the next night to collect these items. But all these habits have changed due to the
contact with the modern world. Now they go to the nearby market for selling and
purchasing.