Mahli

The Mahli are a community in the Indian states of Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal.[2] Basketry was main occupation of mahlis.[3] Mahli speak Sadri, Mundari and Santali as their mother tongue rather than Mahli. May be Mahli is a threatened language. Also use Bengali, Hindi and Odia. They are included in list of Scheduled Tribe.[4]

Mahli
Total population
155,023 (2011 census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
India
Jharkhand152,663
West Bengal2,360
Languages
Sadri, Mundari, Mahli, Bengali, Hindi, Odia
Related ethnic groups
Bansphor, Basor

Origin

They are caste who works as palaqulin bearers and bamboo workers. They are divided into five endogamous subdivision: the bansphor Mahli, pahar mahli, Sulunkhi, Tanti and Mahli Munda. Their some septs are Barwar (banayan), Bhuktuar, dumriar (wild fig), gundli (a kind of grain), Induar (eel), Kantiar, Kasriar, Kathargachh (jackfruit tree), Kendriar, Kerketta (a bird), mahukal (a bird), Tirki, Tunduar, Turu, Lang Chenre, Sanga. Their four septs Hansda, Hemron, Murmu, Saren also found in Santal tribe.[5][6]

Culture

Their traditional occupation was making households items of bamboo. They were also making musical instruments such as Mandar, Dhol, Nagara etc.[7]

Their deity is Surjahi (Solar deity). Other deity are Bar Pahari (mountain deity) and Mansa Devi. Their festival are Bangri, Hariyari and Nawakhani etc.[8]

Official classification

In the past, they were treated as an untouchable caste but listed as Scheduled Tribe by the Jharkhand government.[9]

See also

Further reading
  • Ota, A.B. (2014). Mahali (PDF). {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)

References
  1. "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  2. "The Constitution (Scheduled tribes) Order, 1950" (PDF). Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. pp. 173, 182. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  3. Pant, Niranjan; Verma, R. K. (2010). Tanks in Eastern India: A Study in Exploration. ISBN 9789290907312.
  4. "Mahali". ethnologue.
  5. The tribes and castes of the Central Provinces of India. London: Macmillan and Co. 1916. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. Pranab Chandra Roy Choudhury (1970). Bihar District Gazetteers, Volume 12; Volume 16. Superintendent, Secretariat Press, Bihar. p. 128.
  7. Jewitt, Sarah (31 July 2019). Environment, Knowledge and Gender: Local Development in India's Jharkhand. Routledge. ISBN 978-1351729895. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  8. Ranjan, Manish (19 August 2002). Jharkhand Samanya Gyanand. ISBN 9789351867982. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  9. Shah, Alpa (2003). "An Anthropological Study of Rural Jharkhand, India" (PDF). p. 53. Retrieved 8 November 2022. Jharkhand categorises the Mahelis along with the Oraon, Munda and Badaiks, as a Scheduled Tribe


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