The Santhals are considered to be the largest tribe of Jharkhand. According to 2001 census data, the Santhal community had a population of 18,15,686, or nearly a third of the total tribal population of the state.
Origins of the Santhals:
Many theories try to explain the origin of the Santhals in Jharkhand. One of these theories, advocated by Revd. L.O. Skrefsrud holds that the Santhals lived in Persia, Afghanistan, and parts of modern-day China. They gradually migrated to India via the north-western territories and settled in Punjab. From there, the Santhals finally migrated to the modern-day Jharkhand. Others such as Colonel Dalton believed that the Santhals came from the North-eastern part of India. He argued that the Santhals and some of the north-eastern tribes have a lot in common in culture and language.
Culture:
The Santhals were originally hunters and gatherers, but over centuries they started practicing shifting agriculture. Earlier, their settlements were in the jungles or on hilltops, but today they have moved out to the plains. Often cutting down forests to make space for agricultural fields. They have now become good cultivators and also possess good hunting skills.
Social Life:
The tribe has a very active collective social life. The village headman is called the ‘Manghi’, who is not an elected head but by his birth, i.e. the title is inherited by the sons of the same family. Marriages are conducted within the tribe and often dowry is involved. However, interestingly, the dowry is paid to the family of the bride. They worship the ‘Thakur’ - the supreme spiritual being. Their places of worship are built around or inside forests. These sites are known as Jatarthan, Mangthar, etc. While tribals have the freedom to choose whichever religion they wish to follow, a big chunk of the tribal population in the state follows a tribal way of nature worship, also known as Sarna. Through Sarna, they worship nature as well as their local deities. Elements of nature such as rain, forests, hills, mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon also hold importance in the Sarna religion. They believe in Witchcraft as well as in the spirits.
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