Mahli Explained

Group:Mahli
Population:155,023 (2011 census)
Total Ref:[1]
Popplace:India
Region1:Jharkhand
Pop1:152,663
Region2:West Bengal
Pop2:2,360
Region6:Assam
Pop6:13,452 (1951)
Ref6:[2]
Langs:Mahali, Santali, Odia, Bengali, Hindi
Related:Bansphor, Basor

The Mahli are a community in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.[3] Basketry is their main occupation.[4] They speak the Mahali language, which belongs to the Munda group, and many of them also know Odia, Santali, Bengali, and Hindi.[5] They are included in list of Scheduled Tribe.[6]

Origin

They are caste who works as palanquin bearers and bamboo workers. They are divided into five endogamous subdivision: the bansphor Mahli, pahar mahli, Sulunkhi, Tanti and Mahli Munda. Their some septs are Barwar (banayan), Bhuktuar, dumriar (wild fig), gundli (a kind of grain), Induar (eel), Kantiar, Kasriar, Kathargachh (jackfruit tree), Kendriar, Kerketta (a bird), mahukal (a bird), Tirki, Tunduar, Turu, Lang Chenre, Sanga. Their four septs Hansda, Hemron, Murmu, Saren also found in Santal tribe.[7] [8]

Culture

Their traditional occupation was making households items of bamboo.

They were also making musical instruments such as Mandar, Dhol, Nagara etc.[9]

Their deity is Surjahi (Solar deity). Other deity are Bar Pahari (mountain deity) and Mansa Devi. Their festival are Bangri, Hariyari and Nawakhani etc.[10]

Official classification

They are listed as a Scheduled Tribe by the Jharkhand government.[11]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. www.censusindia.gov.in. 2017-11-03.
  2. Web site: Estimated Population by Castes, 5. Assam – Census 1951 . 1954 . http://web.archive.org/web/20240308003624/https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/30196/download/33377/44094_1951_POP.pdf . 8 March 2024 . live. Office of the Registrar General, India.
  3. Web site: The Constitution (Scheduled tribes) Order, 1950 . 173, 182 . Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India . 2009-03-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127114304/http://lawmin.nic.in/legislative/election/volume%201/rules%20%26%20order%20under%20Constitution/THE%20CONSTITUTION%20%28SCHEDULED%20TRIBES%29%20ORDER%2C%201950.pdf . 27 January 2018 . dead .
  4. Book: Tanks in Eastern India: A Study in Exploration. 9789290907312. Pant. Niranjan. Verma. R. K.. 2010.
  5. Book: Ota, A.B. . Mahali . tribal.nic.in . 2014.
  6. Web site: Mahali. ethnologue.
  7. Book: The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India. 1916. Macmillan and Co. London.
  8. Book: Bihar District Gazetteers, Volume 12; Volume 16. 1970. Pranab Chandra Roy Choudhury. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar. 128.
  9. Book: Environment, Knowledge and Gender: Local Development in India's Jharkhand. 978-1351729895. 4 April 2022. Jewitt. Sarah. 31 July 2019. Routledge .
  10. Book: Jharkhand Samanya Gyanand. books.google. 9789351867982. Ranjan. Manish. 19 August 2002. Prabhat Prakashan .
  11. Web site: An Anthropological Study of Rural Jharkhand, India. Alpa. Shah. 53. 2003. 8 November 2022. Jharkhand categorises the Mahelis along with the Oraon, Munda and Badaiks, as a Scheduled Tribe.

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