Bhil people: History

Overview:
Bhils are Adivasi people who reside primarily in North India. According to
the 2001 census, this tribe was the most populous tribe in India. The Bhil tribe is
divided into two groups, the central or the Pure Bhils found in the mountain ranges
of Madhya Pradesh, Maharastra and the Eastern Rajput Bhils are found in the
eastern part of Tripura. These tribes are important since they have been mentioned
in religious epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Culture:
They worship local deities like Handoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba and Sitalmata.
Bhils dont have a temple of their own and so consult Badvas (hereditary sorcerers)
on all occasions and have Gurus perform the religious rites for Bhil people.
Another aspect of their culture is dance and music. The most famous dances in their
culture are Ghoomar and Gair which are religious dance dramas performed by the
men in the month of July and August.

Dressing:
Women of the tribe wear traditional saris and men wear loose long frock
along with their trousers. They are also renowned for wearing brass based
ornaments.

Food:

The main food of the tribe is maize. Wheat is used on special occasions and
hospitality. Kura, Kodra, Batti, Sangli, Korang etc are used as food. Their meal
normally consists of Maize (Sogra) along with green chilli and Curd Lassi.

Festivals:
Baneshwar fair is the main festival amongst the Bhils. The fair is held during
the period of Shivaratri and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev. On this occasion
bhils gather together and set up camps on the banks of the Som and Mahi River.
They perform dance around the fire and sing traditional songs.