Oraon
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"Kurukh" redirects here. For the language spoken by the Oraon tribe, see Kurukh language.
The Oraon (also spelt as Uraon more precisely Oṛāōn) people inhabit various states across central and eastern India as well as Bangladesh. Traditionally, Oraons depended on the forest 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 numbers 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. The Khurukh or Oraons are the people best known in many parts of India as 'Dhangar'. According to traditions the tribe has gradually migrated from Maharashtra and Gujrat and the word Khurukh is dereived from Konkan which is considered the cradle of this race. The Oraons all agree in this that they were for many generations settled on the Rohatas and adjoining hills and in the Patna District, and that they were driven from that place by Muhammadans.[1] The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, is an Oraon.
CultureThe Oraon language, Kurukh, belongs to the Dravidian family, and is most closely related to Brahui and Malto (Paharia). Kurukh language is being taught in Ranchi University in Jharkhand. A Kurukh Literary Society have been formed after the first Kurukh Conference held in Ranchi in October, 2006. Many Kurukh language magazines are being published from various parts of India. The Oraon people have a rich and vast 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 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, are Oraon. The Oraon people have a rich and vast 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. The majority of Oraon write their gotra along with their name. However, those who follow Tana Bhagat principle or Sarna Dharma write the Bhagat in place of their gotra. Many prefer to write Oraon as a second name in place of a gotra. They are identified by different names in different regions of the country: Andar, Ahiyaru , Ahir, Appugol, Maldhari / Bharwad / Rabari, Bharavadaru, Dhangar, Dhangad / Dhanwar / Dhanka /Dhangod, Doddi Gowda, Gadhariya, Gadaria, Gowda, Gaddi, Gadri, Gollavadu, Gounder, Halumatha, Heggades, Idyar, Khuruk, Kuda, Kuruba, Kuruba Gowda, Kurumba, Kurmar, Kurumbar, Kalavar, Kuruma, Kurumavaaru, Kurkhi, Kurupu, Naikers, Nikhers, Oraon, Pal / Pala, Palaru, Paalakyatriya, Poduvar, Yadavalu. ReligionAbout 75 percent of population are Sarna (following Sarna Dharma, in which Dharmesh is the supreme almighty[2]) and rest are largely Christians. Sarna perform religious rituals under the shade of a sacred grove. Oraon Christians no longer perform most of the traditional rituals; however, Karma, a festival performed during rainy season, is still performed in church in a modified form. See alsoReferences
This article includes material from the 1995 public domain Library of Congress Country Study on India. | ||||||||||
