Oraon | Jharkhand
Oraon peoples are also called ‘Kurukh’ and are the indigenous peoples of Chota Nagpur region of India. They are spread across Central India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Some Oraon tribes can also be found as migrant labourers in the tea estates of Northern India. The Oraon tribes are sub-divided into clans which are identified with animal, plant and mineral totems. The ‘Kurukh’ language is a Dravidian language. Dr. Narayan Oraon is credited with the invention of the Tolong Siki script for Kurukh writing.*
Most Oraon follow the Sarna Religion, based around the supreme god Dharmes and other deities. Some follow Hindu practices and many are practicing Christians. Oraons are often thought be animists, but that notion has turned out to be inaccurate. ‘Biri Belas’ (Sun King) is the name for the sun in Oraon Sarna religion. Outsiders often assume that they worship the sun itself, whereas the truth is that they only worship the sun as a symbol of Dharmes. Similarly, natural objects are treated as the dwellings of the spirits that the Oraons worship, and are not the objects of worship themselves.
The Landing Together team was informed that many Oraon women find are dissatisfied with the mainstream Hindu practice of using the suffix ‘devi’ after their name (Bose, 2016). The team visited Ranchi during the Sarhul festival, which is celebrated during spring season. In Sarhul festival, the saal tree (Shorea robusta) get new flowers and villagers worship and consider it to be the protector of the tribes.
*Source: Tribalzone
Oraon peoples are also called ‘Kurukh’ and are the indigenous peoples of Chota Nagpur region of India. They are spread across Central India, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. Some Oraon tribes can also be found as migrant labourers in the tea estates of Northern India. The Oraon tribes are sub-divided into clans which are identified with animal, plant and mineral totems. The ‘Kurukh’ language is a Dravidian language. Dr. Narayan Oraon is credited with the invention of the Tolong Siki script for Kurukh writing.*
Most Oraon follow the Sarna Religion, based around the supreme god Dharmes and other deities. Some follow Hindu practices and many are practicing Christians. Oraons are often thought be animists, but that notion has turned out to be inaccurate. ‘Biri Belas’ (Sun King) is the name for the sun in Oraon Sarna religion. Outsiders often assume that they worship the sun itself, whereas the truth is that they only worship the sun as a symbol of Dharmes. Similarly, natural objects are treated as the dwellings of the spirits that the Oraons worship, and are not the objects of worship themselves.
The Landing Together team was informed that many Oraon women find are dissatisfied with the mainstream Hindu practice of using the suffix ‘devi’ after their name (Bose, 2016). The team visited Ranchi during the Sarhul festival, which is celebrated during spring season. In Sarhul festival, the saal tree (Shorea robusta) get new flowers and villagers worship and consider it to be the protector of the tribes.
*Source: Tribalzone
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Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
Website design and development by Purabi Bose. ©purabibose October 2016
