Saharia
Encyclopedia
Saharia, Sahar, Sehariya, or Sahariya is an indigenous tribe in the Madhya Pradesh
province of India
. The Saharias are mainly found in the districts of Morena
,sheopur
, Bhind
, Gwalior, Datia
, Shivpuri
, Vidisha
and Guna
districts of Madhya Pradesh
and Baran district of Rajasthan
.
). The most common view is that the present designation of tribe name is said to given by some Muslim rulers (probably by Ruler of Shahbad) who found them residing in the jungle: the Arabic word 'sahara' means 'desert' or 'wilderness'.
Although traditionally they trace back their beginnings to the days of the Ramayana and even beyond. They trace their origin from Shabri of the Ramayan. Another theory suggests that 'Brahma, the creator was busy casting the Universe. He made out a place to seat all persons. In the centre of the place he placed one Sahariya who was a simpleton
. As others came, they also began to sit and gradually pushed the Sahariya to the further end of the square. By the time all had come, the Sahariya was pushed to an extreme corner or khoont...' The story goes on to say that an annoyed Brahma chided the Sahariya for his inability to cope with the pressure and decreed that he would henceforth live in forests and such other out of the way places. Others claim descent from Baiju Bheel, a worshiper of the Hindu god Shiva.
called Saharana. It is generally a cluster of houses. The housing
reminds of prehistoric scenes. It is made of some stone boulders and
roofing is also of stoe slabs-locally called as Patore. In some
villages mud structures are also constructed. Brick and concrete are
very rare. They live in small joint families. The elder sons live
separately after marriage and younger son bear the responsibilities of
the parents and unmarried brothers-sisters.
Dhakar Baba, Durga, Hanuman, Lalbai and Bejasan. Savni Amavasya,
Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Deepavali, Holi
and Teja Dashmi are some
among the major festivals celebrated by them.
sister, marriages have to be arranged from other clans. Totems drawn
on paper as also made from floor are worshipped for the marriage
ceremony. They do not favor child marriage and are performed after
attaining the age of 15 years. Widow marriage called Nat is permitted
but only to a widower or a divorcee, polygamy is permitted to a man
but a woman can not take more than one husband. There are some
arranged marriages and some in the ceremony in the fairs.
headed by a patel. Patels appoinment is based on heredity criterea but can be removed if not fit or suitable. The council decides disputes by a consensus. It imposes fines and social boycotts on the offenders found guilty of committing rape, elopement and adultery. The inter-village dispute is referred to a Chokla Panchayat.
The Sahariyas in the matter of language, they speak the
same Hindi dialects as the other people amongst whom they live.
are particularly skilled in making catechu from khair trees. The main
business is gathering & selling of forest wood, Gum, Tendu leaf,
Honey, Mahua and medicinal herbs. Their traditional occupations also include making baskets, mining and quarrying, and breaking stones.
Basketry is also an important craft of the community. Other areas of activity include hunting and fishing.
Some Sahariyas are settled cultivators. Wheat, jowar, bajra
, maize
are the main cereal crops. Gram and arhar are the main pulses.
Agriculture is largely rain-dependent with merely 2% of the total
land area being irrigated. The main sources of irrigation are wells
and rivulets, which are seasonal. Others are landless labourers who were earlier bonded labours.
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
province of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Saharias are mainly found in the districts of Morena
Morena
Morena is a city and a municipality in Morena district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is also known as Muraina and is the administrative headquarters of Morena District and of Chambal Division. It is 39 km away from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh...
,sheopur
Sheopur
Sheopur is a city in Madhya Pradesh state of central India. It is the administrative headquarters of Sheopur District. Sheopur is linked by rail to Gwalior. The town is traditionally famous for its wood carving...
, Bhind
Bhind
Bhind is a town in Bhind District, Madhya Pradesh, India.The chhatri of Malhar Rao Holkar at Alampur is great archaeology chhatri in Bhind district-Demographics:...
, Gwalior, Datia
Datia
Datia is a small rural town and a municipality in Datia district in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. It is the administrative center of Datia District. It was formerly the seat of the eponymous princely state in the British Raj. Datia is situated near Gwalior and on the border with Uttar...
, Shivpuri
Shivpuri
Shivpuri is a city and a municipality in Shivpuri district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is in the Gwalior Division of northwest Madhya Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of Shivpuri District. It is situated at an altitude of above sea level.-History:Shivpuri is an ancient...
, Vidisha
Vidisha
Vidisha is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, located near the state capital Bhopal. Vidishā is the administrative headquarters of Vidisha District. The city was also known as Bhilsa during the medieval period.-Geography:...
and Guna
Guna, India
Guna is a city and a municipality in Guna district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of Guna District and is located on the banks of Parbati river.- History :...
districts of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh , often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. Its capital is Bhopal and Indore is the largest city....
and Baran district of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
.
Etymology
The etymology of " Saharia " is uncertain but many possibilities exist. Some believe that the tribe's name means "companion of the tiger", where SA means companion, and HARIA means tiger (in the riddle verse of Saint SurdasSurdas
Surdas, the 15th century sightless saint, poet and musician, is known for his devotional songs dedicated to Lord Krishna. Surdas is said to have written and composed a hundred thousand songs in his magnum opus the 'Sur Sagar' , out of which only about 8,000 are extant...
). The most common view is that the present designation of tribe name is said to given by some Muslim rulers (probably by Ruler of Shahbad) who found them residing in the jungle: the Arabic word 'sahara' means 'desert' or 'wilderness'.
History
The history of the Saharia tribe is dotted and in many places, completely lost. The older generations of known Saharia tribespeople fail to give any account of their history, and written records of ancestry are virtually nonexistent.Although traditionally they trace back their beginnings to the days of the Ramayana and even beyond. They trace their origin from Shabri of the Ramayan. Another theory suggests that 'Brahma, the creator was busy casting the Universe. He made out a place to seat all persons. In the centre of the place he placed one Sahariya who was a simpleton
Simpleton (folklore)
In folklore, a simpleton is a person whose foolish actions are the subject of often-repeated stories. Simpletons are also known as noodles, fools, and gothamites. Folklore often holds, with no basis in fact, that certain towns or countries are thought to be home to large numbers of simpletons...
. As others came, they also began to sit and gradually pushed the Sahariya to the further end of the square. By the time all had come, the Sahariya was pushed to an extreme corner or khoont...' The story goes on to say that an annoyed Brahma chided the Sahariya for his inability to cope with the pressure and decreed that he would henceforth live in forests and such other out of the way places. Others claim descent from Baiju Bheel, a worshiper of the Hindu god Shiva.
Dwelling
Their habitations are located outside the main villages, which iscalled Saharana. It is generally a cluster of houses. The housing
reminds of prehistoric scenes. It is made of some stone boulders and
roofing is also of stoe slabs-locally called as Patore. In some
villages mud structures are also constructed. Brick and concrete are
very rare. They live in small joint families. The elder sons live
separately after marriage and younger son bear the responsibilities of
the parents and unmarried brothers-sisters.
Religion
The tribe members believe in Hinduism. They worship Goddess Tejaji,Dhakar Baba, Durga, Hanuman, Lalbai and Bejasan. Savni Amavasya,
Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Deepavali, Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
and Teja Dashmi are some
among the major festivals celebrated by them.
Marriage
Since they consider everyone in an endogamous group to be brother andsister, marriages have to be arranged from other clans. Totems drawn
on paper as also made from floor are worshipped for the marriage
ceremony. They do not favor child marriage and are performed after
attaining the age of 15 years. Widow marriage called Nat is permitted
but only to a widower or a divorcee, polygamy is permitted to a man
but a woman can not take more than one husband. There are some
arranged marriages and some in the ceremony in the fairs.
Social Life
Every adult member of the Sahariya community is part of a council,headed by a patel. Patels appoinment is based on heredity criterea but can be removed if not fit or suitable. The council decides disputes by a consensus. It imposes fines and social boycotts on the offenders found guilty of committing rape, elopement and adultery. The inter-village dispute is referred to a Chokla Panchayat.
The Sahariyas in the matter of language, they speak the
same Hindi dialects as the other people amongst whom they live.
Economy
The Sahariyas are expert woodsmen and forest produce gatherers. Theyare particularly skilled in making catechu from khair trees. The main
business is gathering & selling of forest wood, Gum, Tendu leaf,
Honey, Mahua and medicinal herbs. Their traditional occupations also include making baskets, mining and quarrying, and breaking stones.
Basketry is also an important craft of the community. Other areas of activity include hunting and fishing.
Some Sahariyas are settled cultivators. Wheat, jowar, bajra
Pearl millet
Pearl millet is the most widely grown type of millet. Grown in Africa and the Indian subcontinent since prehistoric times, it is generally accepted that pearl millet originated in Africa and was subsequently introduced into India. The center of diversity, and suggested area of domestication, for...
, maize
are the main cereal crops. Gram and arhar are the main pulses.
Agriculture is largely rain-dependent with merely 2% of the total
land area being irrigated. The main sources of irrigation are wells
and rivulets, which are seasonal. Others are landless labourers who were earlier bonded labours.