Tribals of Rajasthan

Rajasthan
is home to many a tribes who have very interesting history of origin, customs
and social practices. So much so that even today they are fart distinct from
the 'civilised' society around them. While a few tribes are medieval in their
origin, mainly due to events in history, there are a few who date their origin
back to one of the oldest prehistoric civilisations in world viz. the Indus
valley civilisation.
From the beginning of man's presence in the area that is now called Rajasthan,
till around 1400 BC, the Bhil and Mina tribes roamed and ruled the land. The
Aryan invasion, represented by horse drawn chariots and superior bows and arrows,
seems to have tyrannised tribal migration to the south and the east. Pushed
into the natural hideout forests and the ancient and craggy Aravalli ranges,
the Bhil and the Mina tribes survived more easily. The northern, nomadic ethnic
intrusions continued into Rajasthan. They were respected by the Sakas, Kusanas,
Abhiras, Hunas and others. Quite a large number of these invaders are now covered
by the blanket term Rajput whose royal lineage stood upon the ruins of the Gurjara
(Pratihara Empire). All too naturally, the warrior- invaders fitted the Aryan
material caste of Kshatriyas which in time came to be divided into 36 Rajputs
clans.
The camouflaged existence of Rajasthan's original inhabitants certainly isolated
them from the main stream, keeping them unaware of the changes. Today, they
may be considered a backward people but that does not, in anyway, call for any
pejorative interpretations of their primitivism.
The various tribes of Rajasthan are:
Bhils The bow men of Rajasthan
Minas The militant defenders
Lohars The nomadic blacksmiths
Garasias The fallen Rajputs
Sahariyas The jungle dwellers
All the tribes share common traits which seem to link their past but it is the
differences in their costumes and jewelry, their gods and deities and their
seasonal fairs and festivals that sets one tribal sanctuary apart from another.
Tribals of Rajasthan, Tribal Tours in India
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