Munda Adivasi

The Munda are one of the major Adivasi groups of the Jharkhandi origin, occupy third position in the numerical strength. They are one of the strongest Kolarian tribes inhabiting in the region of Chotanagpur. They are found in the districts of Ranchi, Hazaribag, Palamu, Gumla, Singhbhum, Santhal Pargana and Giridih, Rohtas, Bhabhua, Buxar, Bhojpur and Purnia. They speak Sadani language. 

The historical traditions reveal that the Munda were original inhabitants of north-western India. After Aryan invasion, they came to Azamgarh and from there they migrated to chotanagpur crossing the river son.

Material Culture

The Munda live in a mixed village with other tribes. Each village has three important sites – (i) Sarana, (ii) Akhara and (iii) Sasan.

Family: Family is in small form, a nuclear family, consists of 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

According to Munda marriage is essential for the continuity of family name and race. The Munda follow the rule of monogamy. But in exceptional situational like barrenness, widowhood, widowerhood bigamy and polygamy are allowed. The Munda have been divided into about 340 Clans. Some important clans of the Munda are: - Bhengra, Bodra, Parti, etc.

Kinship

The kinship system of the Munda presents a model of relationship based on parentage and marriage. The blood relation present since the birth of an individual. But marriage relation takes place when the individual attains marriage-able age.

Birth and Death

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. 

The Munda are full aware of death reality. They know that wherever there is birth there is death. But in between the death and birth an individual is expected to go through the stages of infancy-childhood, younghood, adulthood and oldhood.

Economy

The economy of the Munda presents a mixed picture of agricultural, wage earning, collection of forest produce and service or permanent labour.

Political Organisation

The Munda have their traditional political system. They have the system of traditional village Panchayat and the traditional inter village Panchayat. The Village head is called Munda.

Religion

The religion of the Munda presents a mixture of tribalism and Christianity.

© Jharkhand Org