Mal Paharia Adivasi
The Mal Paharia, one of the primitive tribal groups of Jharkhand state are found in the districts of Dumka, Jamtara, Godda, Deoghar and Pakur . Their language is mixture of Santhali, Bengali and Hindi. They are of fair complexion. Their villages are situated on the foothills and plains.
Family
Family is the smallest unit of social organization in the Mal Paharia society. Family is nuclear, husband-wife and their unmarried children. Married son established their own family and married daughter leave the house to lead a family with their husband.
Marriage
The ritual of marriage generally comes in the life of all boys and girls of The Mal Paharia Monogamy are the usual form of marriage. Bigamy is also allowed. Levirate and Sorrorate marriage are permissible. Pre-marital relation with in lineage group is not allowed. But in case of other lineage group it is excused and finally results in marriage. Marriage may take place between boys and girls of two lineages but generally it is avoided. They generally follow village exogamy. Usual way of acquiring bride is by bride-price and through the consent of parents of boys and girls. But marriage by exchange, elopement service and love may also take place.
Birth
Birth is regarded as very joyous occasion in the society of the Munda . It makes the couple fertile and washes the strain of barrenness for ever. It enhances the status of the husband and the wife as father and mother.
Death
The Mal Paharia is aware of death reality. They know well that wherever birth there is is death. But they do not know the age and time of death, although it is pre-decided. Some die just after birth, some die in infancy, some in young age. The death during old age is taken good because it brings occasion of transformation of body and soul of a person. The dead body is buried or cremated. Only male members participates in death rituals.
Economy
Chief economic activities of Mal Paharia is agriculture, collection of forest produce from the forest, forest labour, agriculture labour, Reja-Coolie wage labour and few are employed in small government jobs.
Religion
The Mal Paharia believes in animism and they practice ancestral worship. They also believe in naturalism and worship natural objects like sun, river, mountain, tree, animal, birds, plants and bushes.
Political Organization
The Mal Paharia has the concept of village head, village Panchayat and inter village Panchayat. The village head is called "Manjhi". He is assisted by Gorait and Dewan.
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