Asur Tribe

Utkrishta Tarafdar
21bdc051
About
Asur people are a very small Austroasiatic ethnic group
living primarily in the Indian state of Jharkhand, mostly in
the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts.
Out of the 76 Primitive Tribal Groups in India 40 Tribal
Communities live in West Bengal Asur is one of them which
is considered to be the oldest community in India It fall
under Proto-Australoid category of ancient human who
started migrating from Africa around 65,000 years ago:
They speak Asurt language which belongs to Austro-Asiatic
family of languages.
Origin
Ashur is one of the 40 Scheduled Tribes of West Bengal
who claim to be the descendants of this same name in the
past. However, it is true that the word Ashur is inscribed in
multiple Hindu scriptures. Such as Rig Veda, Brahmadanda,
Aranyakas, Upanishads, Puranas etc. In trying to find the
answer, the court first mentioned the name of a small
indigenous group in America, "Nowaho". They belong to the
reserved group. Interestingly, the Americans call them
nowa-ho, but the people call themselves tribe people.
Asur Tribes Descendants in modern India
Culture
Asur's culture is found embedded in their household
possession which includes utensils, furniture, war
weapons, hunting implements, iron-smelting implements,
baskets, dress, ornaments etc. The Asur build their house
with the help of mud, wooden poles, bamboo, leaves,
grasses and tiles. The house is rectangular in shape. Each
house consists of one or two rooms with a balcony. There
is door and wooden gate and no window


For purpose of cooking they have earthen pots,

aluminium utensils, iron utensils and some utensils of
bronze in their houses and even for serving food,
storing water and grains. They use many kinds of
baskets for storing and carrying things. For hunting
animals and for protecting themselves from enemies
they have axe, knife, Bhala, Ber, Kudal, Khanti, Khurapi
elc for collection of forest produce. Their musical
instruments include Dhol and Flute
CLOTHES
The Asur Tribal men wear Dhoti and have a
Gamchha on their head or shoulder They wear
ganji and kurta when they have to go out of
the village. they use plastic shoes or slippers
at the time of going to market or to some
other villages The women wear Sari, Saya and
Blouse.
Previously Asur woman used to cover their entire body
with the same sari without Blouse and Saya The Asur
children wear Pant, Ganji, Shirt and Salwar Suit in late
childhood In early childhood, the children wear Ganji or
Shirt only They purchase clothes from the local Haat Asur
women are very much fond of ornaments which they
wear in fingers, wrist, neck, ear and feet. Their ornaments
are made up of bronze steel, glass, thread, wild seeds and
imitation of gold and silver Now-a-days tattooing is not
so popular
Occupation
Asurs are traditionally iron-smelters. They were once hunter
gatherers, having also involved in shifting agriculture.
Their indigenous technology of iron smelting gives them a
distinct identity; as they claim to have descended from the
ancient Asuras who were associated with the art of metal
craft. When smelting, the Asur women sing a song relating the
furnace to an expectant mother encouraging the furnace to
give a healthy baby, i.e., good quality and quantity of iron
from the ore; and were thence, according to Bera, associated
with the fertility cult. But now a days a major section of the
population is also attached with mining work.
Society
The Asur society is divided into 12 clans. These Asur clans
are named after different animals, birds and food grains.
Family is second prominent institution after the clan. The
clans are Aind (Eel), Dhan (Rice), Lila (Deer), Suar (Pig),
Bharewa (Wild dog), Kerketta (A kind of bird), Munjani
(Anjun tree), Titio (A kind of bird), Beng (Frog), Khusar (A
kind of bird), Non (Salt) and toppo (Wood pecker).
Divisions
The modern Asur tribe is divided into three sub-tribal divisions, namely
Bir (Kol) Asur, Birjia Asur and Agaria Asur. The Birjia are recognized as a
separate schedule tribe
Relegion
The Asur religion is the combination of animism, animatism, naturalism
and ancestral worships. They believe in black magic like Bhut-pret and
witchcraft Asur's chief Deity is Singbonga; other deities are Dharat Mata
Duart Paldaraha and Tun Husid.
To get rid of the attack of Bhuta-Preta they go to the Ojha. They also
have faith in Dain Some Asurs Tribes have adopted Christianity. They
visit churches and celebrate Christian festivals.
Festivals
The festival they celebrate are like Sarhul,
Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Raj karma,
Dasahara Karam, Deothan Puja, Kharoch Puja,
Khalihani Puja Goraiya Puja, Phagu and Pilar
Puja. The Asur Tribe offer sacrifice of goat,
chicks, duck and eggs at the time of worship to
please the deity. They worship at community
level, and all the ritual is done by the sacred
specialist called Baiga.
Marriage
Marriage is very important ritual and come essentially in the life
of every individual. Only physically disabled are not able to get
married. The Asur follow the rule of monogamy, but in case of
barrenness, widower and widow hood, they follow the rule of
bigamy or even Polygamy. Widow remarriages are permissible. At
the time of marriage, they follow the rule of tribe endogamy.
Those who do not obey these rules are thrown out from the
community but are allowed after paying seven times feast to the
community members
Challenge
Presently, the Asurs of Jharkhand are having many difficulties.
They don't have access to proper basic amenities like health
services, education, transportation, drinking water, etc. They are
on the verge to become destitute because of the elimination of
their traditional occupation iron-smelting.. There have been
cases of human trafficking of the minor girls, poverty is a big
reason behind it. These days a young Asur woman called
Sushma Asur is striving hard to preserve art, culture and the
existence of her community.