The Oraon उरांव or Kurukh कुड़ुख tribe (Kurukh: ''Oṛāōⁿ'' and ''Kuṛuḵẖ''), also spelled Uraon, Oran, or Oram, inhabits various states across central and eastern India as well as Bangladesh. Oraons, unlike other tribes of Jharkhand and Orissa are speakers of Dravidian languages. They are much closer to native non-tribal Indian populations than other tribes. They are most probably descended from regions of Maharashtra and South India. In contrast, most other tribes are Austro-Astroloids and speak a distinct language. Traditionally, Oraons depended on the forest and farms for their ritual and economic livelihood, but in recent times they have become mainly settled agriculturalists. Small numbers of Oraons have immigrated to the northeastern part of India, where they are mainly employed in tea estates. A number of educated Oraons have settled down in metros like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and many other cities of India including Patna, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Allahabad, and Lucknow. Some have even settled abroad in the US and Europe. Today a large number of Oraons live in Jharkhand, Orissa and parts of Chhatisgarh, Bihar, West Bengal. During the colonial era, the Tana Bhagats, led by their Tana saint Turia Bhagat, protested against the imperialists by not paying the 'chaukidari' tax while the Bishnu Bhagats under Bhikku Bhagat.

People

The Kurukh or Oraons are the people best known in many parts of India as ''Tribal of Chotanagpur''. Oraon appears to have been assigned to them as a nickname, possibly with reference to their many migrations and proneness to roam, however they like to be called as Kurukhar. The Oraons all agree in this, that they were for many generations settled down on the Rohatas Fort and adjoining hills near the Patna District of present Bihar.

A large number of Oraons today are converts from Hinduism to Christianity, while a minority of Oraons are Muslim.

Dhangar of Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, the Oraon are known as Dhangar Hatkar. According to the tradition of the community, the word Dhangar has been derived from the Hindi word ''dhan'' or paddy. Unlike other Oraon groups, those of Uttar Pradesh have been assimilated by neighbouring Hindu society, and as such have scheduled caste and scheduled tribe status. They are divided into ten totemistic clans, the Bar, Bahakia, Ekka, Katur, Hekla, Lakra, Miraga, Tiga, Tirikia and Toppa. The community is concentrated in Mirzapur District.

Culture

The Oraon language, Kurukh, belongs to the Dravidian language, and is most closely related to Brahui and Malto (Paharia). Kurukh language is being taught in Ranchi University in Jharkhand. A Kurukh Literary Society has been formed after the first Kurukh Conference held in Ranchi in October, 2006.

The Oraon people have a rich range of folk songs, dances and tales, as well as traditional musical instruments. Both men and women participate in dance, which are performed at social events and festivals. Mandar, Nagara and kartal are the main musical instruments.

A sizable numbers of Oraon have immigrated to the northeastern part of India, where they are mainly employed in tea estates of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. A sizable numbers of Oraon have been settled down in North Bihar and in Nepal. Many have settled down in the lower part of Bhutan (Samchi district).

Kartik Oraon, who was a highly educated Oraon, an Indian Congress leader and former state communication minister of India, Albert Ekka, the Paramveer Chakra awardees, and the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo and Dilip Tirkey, former captain of the Indian hockey team are all Oraons.

The Oraon people have a rich and vast range of folk songs, dances and tales, as well as traditional musical instruments. Their songs and music changes according to season and festivals. Both men and women participate in dance, which are performed at social events and festivals. The Oraon who have adopted Christianity write their original title along with their name. However, those who follow Tana Bhagat principle prentend to be priest and also Sarna Dharma write the Bhagat in place of their gotra. Many prefer to write Oraon as a second name in place of a gotra. Majority of Oraon who write their title are Kerketta, (Xalxo or khalkho), Xaxa, Xess, Tirkey, Toppo, Tigga, Kujur, Minz, Ekka Barla, Barwa, Indwar or Ind, Lakra, Beck, Dhanwar, Baghwar, Kachhap, kindo, Kispota, kanda, Kokro, Gaddi, Khoya, Chermanko, Dadel, Niya, Panna, Bakula, Basa, Bando, Bhagat, Binko, Beck, Munjni, Runda, Linda, Son, Rawna, etc.) with their name. However, those who follow Tana Bhagat principle write Bhagat in place of gotra . However, Oraon community (specially oraon community parents let there kids to marry in Munda community because this relate to MADRA MUNDA king of Munda who gave place to stay ,after defeat by Mugals in Rohtasghar Bihar)often marry other caste and community (Munda, Kharia, Santal) . However, Sarna Oraon prefer marriage with a Oraon only with full traditional fashion.

Religion

Sarnaism

The Oraon Adivasi followed the 'Sarna' Dharam (Sarna religion) but due to the influence of Hinduism and Christianity some of the groups started following Sarna in Hindu style, as Bishnu Bhagats, Bacchinda Bhagats, Karmu Bhagats and Tana Bhagats; others accepted Christianity. The Oraons have established several Sarna sects. Some belong to the 'Bishnu Bhagats' and 'Bacchidan Bhagats' of Lord Vishnu while the 'Kamru Bhagats' and 'Tana Bhagats' are devotees of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. Oraon believe in nature and its power. According to Oraon's philosophy the whole world (Universe) is regulated by a superpower that is 'Dharmesh'in Kurukh which simply points to the almighty. The Dharti (the earth), Chando (the moon) and Biri (the Sun) are its representative divine powers, which are the prime sources of supernatural powers. Oraon's names and sects are often similar as those of Caste Hindu of Indian society. The religion of Oraon is based on their belief in nature and its supernatural power. Whereas the bases of Hinduism are four Vedas and four Vernas, The Gotras system of Oraon is based on natural totem systems. Oraon do not follow a rigid caste system. Oraons worship Mahaedeo (a name given for Dharmesh). Oraon believe every thing in nature has its own deity or god.

The Bishnu Bhagat sect was founded by Bhikku Bhagat in the modern era in Bihar.

The Bacchidan Bhagats (also known as 'Vaishnava Bhagats') were founded by Balram Bhagat who opposed using the cow or bull to plow the fields as they are holy creatures.

Kamru Bhagats (Oaron or Munda devotee) originated when Oarins acquired special powers after making a pilgrimage to Kamakhya in Asom to pay respect to the Durga.

Tana Bhagats were formed by Oaron saints Jatra Bhagat and Turia Bhagat. The Tana Bhagats opposed the taxes imposed on them by the British and they staged a Satyagraha (civil disobedience movement) even before Mahatma Gandhi's satyagraha movement. All Tana Bhagats were the followers of Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggles and participated in the movement. Still Tana Bhagats wears KHADI kurta, dhoti and Gandhi topi (cap) with tricoloured flag in their topi (cap). All the Tana Bhagats are performing pooja to the tricolour with CHARAKHA symbol on it fixed at their courtyard.

Religious Beliefs

Most of population are Sarna (following Sarna Dharma, in which Dharmesh is the supreme almighty). Sarna perform religious rituals under the shade of a sacred grove. Sarna worship The Sun as Biri and the Moon as Chando. Chando Biri are the words which been used in the Sarna Puja. They called the earth Dharti Aayo (Earth as mother). Oraon worship nature and believe that the great consciousness or The God is nature itself. The Oraon believe in equality and respect individual rights to worship anything, everything or nothing, as per an individual's own perceptions. They also call the spirits of ancestors at their home for living with them, as they believe that they possess kind hearts and divine powers and do good for their family. They do not believe in hoarding wealth and believe in living a simple life. The Pahans also called as "BAIGA" and Pujaris who perform Puja and other rituals in the community or village get a piece of land for livelihoods until they shoulder the responsibilities. Once they shed the responsibilities, they forfeit the right to cultivate on the Pahnai Khet.

A large number of Oraons were forced to abandon their original beliefs of Sarna Dharma during the British rule mainly due to the British induced famines and exploitations coupled with Christian missionaries. In fact, the 19th century troubles were mainly due to the hoarding malpractices of the Britishers who used to export the food to other countries. These led to indirect deaths of millions of Biharis and Bengalis. The Christian missions found the Oraon community depressed and without food and one of the conditions of giving them food used to be becoming Christians. That's why most Christian Oraons are limited to cities and the vast majority of population in villages still follow traditional religions like Hindu and Sarna.

See also

Munda

Kharia

Sadri language

Kol (people)

kurumbar

DhangarHatkar

Hear Oraon Music

An Oraon spiritual song

A Christmas Carol in the Oraon dialect from Jharkhand in India

References

External links

Sinlung Sinlung - Indian tribes

''This article includes material from the 1995 public domain Library of Congress Country Study on India.''

Category:Ethnic groups in Bangladesh Category:Languages of Bangladesh Category:Indigenous peoples of India Category:Dravidian peoples Category:Tribes of West Bengal Category:Social groups in Orissa Category:Social groups of West Bengal Category:Social groups of Jharkhand Category:Social groups of Uttar Pradesh Category:Tribes of Uttar Pradesh Category:Dhangar

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