Munda Tribe

Introduction :- 

Chota Nagpur is the place of origin of Munda tribes, i.e. those communities who speak languages belonging to the Austro-Asiatic Mundari family Mundari-speaking groups can be
defined by their language, their ecological adaptation, and by their social and political organization. Munda tribe is one of the oldest tribes of the country. Munda tribe has sixth rank among the ten big tribal communities of India.  Munda tribal livelihood system is dependent on agriculture and forest products but they are basically farmers.

Munda tribal society is traditional and a complex cultural system. There are many traditional and cultural customs, which are performed by every Munda family. The traditional is affined with culture. Traditional performance and culture both are aesthetic objects. In Munda society traditional art and craft, songs,dances are integral to the community. They enjoy their life with their traditional performances. Indeed there is no real separation between art and life or between dance .

Munda tribe male and female literacy rate increased at 2001 census as compared to the 1991census literacy rate of all over ST which was only 27.5 per cent. It can be said that, Munda tribal society has a respectable place for woman. There is no gender discrimination.

Culture/Religion :-  

• Nature and tribes are identical and both understand each other. Forest and land is not only mother of existence of Munda tribe but all tribal societies also depend on forest and land. Since ages Munda tribe communities live in the lap of the nature so their economy and culture are really associated with nature.
• Culture and tradition of Munda tribe is unique and delightful. Dancing and singing are a part of their life. All their festivals start with dance and song and also end with dance and a song.
• All their festivals are four days event. The first day is for fasting and praying, the second day is for making and offering foods, and next day all members eat, drink, dance and sing their folk songs. Fourth day is for winding up with a song. Munda culture and religion are indigenous. Their indigenous culture and knowledge become an additional strength of their new generation. Munda culture believes in nature?s justice and equality. Men and women work together.
• They worship in saran. There is a sal tree in sarana.Mainly, only one sarna is located in a village. It is believed that when Munda ancestors came to Chotanagpur plateau they left a patch of forest unclear with the belief that the God would reside in this patch of forest. So sal tree is symbol of God for munda tribe
• Munda never cut the sal tree. To cut or break the sal tree is forbidden. There is some religious restriction present in Munda society.Women are prohibited to visit this religious center sarna. It is believed that if a woman touches even a leaf of the tree, she will be affected with the curse of Bonga.? Bonga or sing Bonga is God of Munda tribe, the chief god, as well as the creator-god and the sun-god of the Mundas.
• The four words which are very important for Munda tribal society which are Sarna, Akhra, Hatt (Local fair) and hadiya (rice beer), where Sarna is a worship place, there
• is another places also which is a part of religious life of Munda tribe.
• Akhra is place of cultural activies, Hatt is local market or fair, where Munda tribe goes to buy forest products, goats and other cattle.When Munda goes to hatt, they meet other community or society people and Hadiya (Rice beer)  is a beverage. Iit is made from rice.

Marriage/family :- 

• Munda tribe gets married in same community. But it is necessary that boy and girl should belong to different clans. People of munda tribe get married in adult age. A man must know how to make a plough and yoke and for a woman, she must know how to weave a mat. These are the normal prerequisites for getting married.
• As a Hindu marriage ceremony can?t be completed without vermilion similarly exchange of vermilion is an integral part of marriage ceremony of Munda tribe. They make (mandap) bower from bamboo and tied kher grass and the Sal in bamboo. The middle of the marriage platform is prepared with five Sal saplings, the yoke and the grinding stone, etc. placed for the bride and the groom to sit for bathing after the wedding. All these reflect wishes for lasting marriage.
• Munda tribe completes all their cultural ritual in minimum karma kand. There is a direct relation between man and nature. They do not need any pedantic. They are simple humans.

By: Shashank Shekhar