Mythologies of the Hani/Ho Tribe

The Ho tribe are an Austroasiatic Munda ethnic group of India. They call themselves the Ho, Hodoko and Horo, which mean ‘human’ in their own language. Officially, however, they are mentioned in different subgroups like Kolha, Mundari, Munda, Kol and Kolah in Odisha. They are mostly concentrated in the Kolhan region of Jharkhand and Odisha where they constitute around 10.7% and 7.3% of the total Scheduled Tribe population respectively, as of 2011 . With a population of approximately 700,000 in the state in 2001, the Ho are the fourth most numerous Scheduled tribe in Jharkhand after the Santals, Kurukhs, and Mundas. Ho also inhabit adjacent areas in the neighboring states of Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar bringing the total to 806,921 as of 2001. They also live in Bangladesh and Nepal. The ethnonym “Ho” is derived from the Ho language word hō meaning “human”. The name is also applied to their language which is an Austroasiatic language closely related to Mundari. According to Ethnologue, the total number of people speaking the Ho language was 1,040,000 as of 2001. Similar to other Austroasiatic groups in the area, the Ho report varying degrees of multilingualism, also using Hindi and English. Ho is one of the scheduled tribes of Jharkhand, In Jharkhand belongs to Proto-Australoid stock and they speak Ho and Hindi and a corrupt version of Bengali is also spoken by these Ho’s of Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, Ho tribe beside nears the rivers, river terraces or by the side of the springs. It is not worthy in this context that the Ho people of Jharkhand are largely depends on agriculture. Agriculture is the occupations of the people of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand. Ho is one of the scheduled tribes of Jharkhand, In Jharkhand belongs to Proto-Australoid stock and they speak Ho and Hindi and a corrupt version of Bengali is also spoken by these Ho’s of Jharkhand. In Jharkhand, Ho tribe beside nears the rivers, river terraces or by the side of the springs. It is not worthy in this context that the Ho people of Jharkhand are largely depends on agriculture. Agriculture is the occupations of the people of the Ho tribe in Jharkhand.

Over 90% of the Ho practice the indigenous religion Sarnaism. The majority of the Ho are involved in agriculture, either as land owners or labourers, while others are engaged in mining. Compared to the rest of India, the Ho have a low literacy rate and a low rate of school enrollment. The government of Jharkhand has recently approved measures to help increase enrollment and literacy among children. Linguistic studies suggest that the Austroasiatic homeland was in Southeast Asia and Austroasiatic languages arrived on the coast of Odisha from Southeast Asia about 4000–3500 years ago. The Austroasiatic speaker spread from Southeast Asia and mixed extensively with local Indian populations.

Ho, also called Larka Kol, tribal people of the state of Bihār in India, concentrated in the area of Kolhān on the lower Chota Nāgpur Plateau. They numbered about 1,150,000 in the late 20th century, mostly in Bihār and Orissa states of northeastern India. They speak a language of the Munda family and appear to have moved gradually into their territory from farther north. Their traditional social organization includes features common to those of other Munda-speaking tribes, including the institution of girls’ and boys’ dormitories, an elaborate system of village offices, and a territorial organization into quasi-military confederations. They trace their descent through the paternal line, and young people are expected to marry outside the paternal clan, but there is a prevalent custom of marrying one’s cousin on the maternal side. Marriage by elopement and by abduction are also traditionally common. The Ho worship spirits, some of which they believe to cause disease; they approach them through divination and witchcraft. The traditional economy of the Ho‘ was hunting and a primitive, shifting agriculture. These pursuits have declined in favour of settled agriculture and livestock raising. Many of the men also work as labourers in mines and factories.

RITUALS AND FESTIVALS OF THE HO TRIBE

Some of the eastern Indian states like, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal possess a large number of tribal population. These three states being contiguous have many tribal communities such as Santal, Munda and Ho, spread over these three states. This paper deals with the rituals and festivals of the Ho tribe spread in two contiguous locations of Saraikella-Kharsuan (erstwhile West Singhbhum) district of Jharkhand and Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. Of the two core villages from where the data are mainly collected, Rabankocha, is an uni-ethnic Ho village situated in Jharkhand and the Badhatnabeda, a multi-ethnic village, located in Orissa . While the Orissa village is exposed to urban and mining environment, the Jharkhand village is comparatively interior and less exposed to the urban influences. The Hoes of these two villages have much commonality in terms of cultural and religious beliefs and practices. The Ho is one of the major tribes of Jharkhand and Orissa. The Calhan area of Jharkhand is the original place of their inhabitant. In due course of time they spread towards its neighboring areas of Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal and even a few to Assam. These Hoes belong to the Proto-Astrologic group. They are of short stature, dark complex with broad and flat nose. In the Ho language the word ‘Ho’ means a man and accordingly any human being can be designated as a Ho. From the field situation it is clear that the term ‘Ho’ is only used by this community to identify them, whereas the other neighboring communities address them by the term ‘Kola’. The Ho belong to the Munda branch of Austro-Asiatic languages and allied to Sandal and Mandarin dialects in certain respect. In Jharkhand (as it belonged to erstwhile Hindi state of Bihar till recently) the Hindi language based on Denair script is used for inter-community communication where as among themselves they speak Ho dialect. The Ho of Orissa use both Hindi and Oriya languages and Oriya script. They have a strong belief in religion, spirit and super natural powers. They worship different Gods and Goddesses residing in nearby jungles and hills. The Singhbonga or the Sun God is the supreme deity worshipped by them, who is mainly responsible for the rain, crop, life, and other necessities related to life. Besides Singhbonga, the Ho also worship a number of other deities like Marangburu, Goodie era, Japer era etc. The worship of both benevolent and malevolent spirits is also practiced among the Ho. They celebrate both traditional and adopted festivals. Their traditional festivals are mostly associated to their agricultural activities. The Ho traditionally being a part of an elaborate political system, have a strong traditional base with corresponding political offices to maintain social control. Thus, the Ho of Jharkhand at the lowest level were places under Piers, which were under a Mankind (a divisional headman). Each Ho village has their own headman called Munda. Birth is considered as an important landmark in Ho life cycle. Though a father plays the main role in procreation of a child, it is believed that a child is a gift of Singhbonga. The Hoes practice tribe endogamy and clan exogamy. Marriage within the clan is strictly prohibited and the offenders are treated outcaste from their society. Traditionally, the Ho believe that person dies not because of its old age or disease but because of the evil spirit and black magic. The Ho both bury and cremate their dead. Each clan has their separate burial place, located close to their house.

Ho tribe is mainly concentrated in the West Bengal state of India. Apart from this region, the Ho people also reside in the earlier Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. They are renowned for their simple, amiable and other philanthropic qualities. In the earlier period, the Ho people were far-famed for their fighting skills and acumen. The Hos secured their position by winning different wars against the Rajas of Mayurbhanj district and Chota Nagpur. Ho tribal group is also known by alternative names like Bihar Ho tribes or Lanka Kol. The word ‘Ho’ generally connotes man. Their language is known as Ho language that is of Austroasiatic language family. The people of this tribe of West Bengal maintain their heritage of tradition and ethnicity, leaving a mark of their exclusivity. As far as the physical statures of these people are concerned, they are quite sturdy and strong, making them to stand apart from other tribal communities who are thronging the region. Ho people have sharp intelligence and courage which are evident in their lifestyle.

The Ho is one of the major tribes of Jharkhand and Orissa. The Calhan area of Jharkhand is the original place of their inhabitant. In due course of time they spread towards its neighboring areas of Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal and even a few to Assam. These Hoes belong to the Proto-Astrologic group. They are of short stature, dark complex with broad and flat nose. In the Ho language the word ‘Ho’ means a man and accordingly any human being can be designated as a Ho. From the field situation it is clear that the term ‘Ho’ is only used by this community to identify them, whereas the other neighboring communities address them by the term ‘Kola’. The Ho belong to the Munda branch of Austro-Asiatic languages and allied to Sandal and Mandarin dialects in certain respect. In Jharkhand (as it belonged to erstwhile Hindi state of Bihar till recently) the Hindi language based on Denair script is used for inter-community communication where as among themselves they speak Ho dialect. The Ho of Orissa use both Hindi and Oriya languages and Oriya script. They have a strong belief in religion, spirit and super natural powers. They worship different Gods and Goddesses residing in nearby jungles and hills. The Singhbonga or the Sun God is the supreme deity worshipped by them, who is mainly responsible for the rain, crop, life, and other necessities related to life. Besides Singhbonga, the Ho also worship a number of other deities like Marangburu, Goodie era, Japer era etc. The worship of both benevolent and malevolent spirits is also practiced among the Ho. They celebrate both traditional and adopted festivals. Their traditional festivals are mostly associated to their agricultural activities. The Ho traditionally being a part of an elaborate political system, have a strong traditional base with corresponding political offices to maintain social control. Thus, the Ho of Jharkhand at the lowest level were places under Piers, which were under a Mankind (a divisional headman). Each Ho village has their own headman called Munda. Birth is considered as an important landmark in Ho life cycle. Though a father plays the main role in procreation of a child, it is believed that a child is a gift of Singhbonga. The Hoes practice tribe endogamy and clan exogamy. Marriage within the clan is strictly prohibited and the offenders are treated outcaste from their society. Traditionally, the Ho believe that person dies not because of its old age or disease but because of the evil spirit and black magic. The Ho both bury and cremate their dead. Each clan has their separate burial place, located close to their house. Ho tribe is mainly concentrated in the West Bengal state of India. Apart from this region, the Ho people also reside in the earlier Singhbhum district of Jharkhand. They are renowned for their simple, amiable and other philanthropic qualities. In the earlier period, the Ho people were far-famed for their fighting skills and acumen. The Hos secured their position by winning different wars against the Rajas of Mayurbhanj district and Chota Nagpur. Ho tribal group is also known by alternative names like Bihar Ho tribes or Lanka Kol. The word ‘Ho’ generally connotes man. Their language is known as Ho language that is of Austroasiatic language family. Ho cultural exuberance of this tribal community is explicit in diverse festivals, fairs customs and rituals. Dancing and singing too are part and parcel of these festival festivities. Special drinks and foods are being served which is a must for these celebrations. The Ho tribal people use their provisions of rice in order to make a special beer mainly during festival seasons. The Ho people celebrate different festivals along with Mage Porob, which is a dancing festival. This is celebrated in the month of Magh. In this festival, people from other villages come and participate in the dance programme. They also celebrate Salui Puja, Makar Sankranti, Sohrai, Karama and Akshay Tritiya.

The Hani or Ho people (Hani: Haqniq; Chinese: 哈尼族; pinyin: Hānízú; Vietnamese: Người Hà Nhì / 𠊛何贰) are a Lolo-speaking ethnic group in Southern China and Northern Laos and Vietnam. They form one of the 56 officially recognized nationalities of the People’s Republic of China and one of the 54 officially recognized ethnic groups of Vietnam. In Laos, the Hani are more commonly known as Ho. There are 12,500 Hani living in Lai Châu Province and Lào Cai Province of Vietnam. The Ho reside in the mountainous northern regions of Phongsaly Province in Laos, near the Chinese and Vietnamese borders. Over ninety percent of present-day Hani peoples live in the Province of Yunnan in Southern China, located across the Ailao Mountains, between the Mekong River and the Red River (Yuanjiang river).

The Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces, China covers 16,603-hectares in Southern Yunnan. It is marked by spectacular terraces that cascade down the slopes of the towering Ailao Mountains to the banks of the Hong River. Over the past 1,300 years, the Hani people have developed a complex system of channels to bring water from the forested mountaintops to the terraces. They have also created an integrated farming system that involves buffalos, cattle, ducks, fish and eel and supports the production of red rice, the area’s primary crop. The inhabitants worship the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, forests and other natural phenomena including fire. They live in 82 villages situated between the mountaintop forests and the terraces. The villages feature traditional thatched “mushroom” houses. The resilient land management system of the rice terraces demonstrates extraordinary harmony between people and their environment, both visually and ecologically, based on exceptional and long-standing social and religious structures. The landscape reflects an integrated four-fold system of forests, water supply, terraces and houses. The mountain top forests are the lifeblood of the terraces in capturing and sustaining the water needed for the irrigation. There are four types of forests, the ancient ‘water recharge’ forest, sacred forest, consolidation forests, and village forests for the provision of timber for building, food and firewood. The sacred forests still have strong connotations. Above the village are places for the Village God “Angma” (the soul of the village) and for the Land Protection God “Misong”, where villagers pray for peace, health and prosperity.

The Hani people on the border of Vietnam in southern Yunnan may be the most traditional and least assimilated of the ethnic minorities in southern China. There are about 2 million in China. They make remarkable terraced rice paddies and are known for their tea culture. They grow excellent teas including the often costly but delicious and healthful variety called Pu’er. Tourists like to visit their towns and tribal villages, eat their cuisine, buy and drink their teas, and experience their lifestyles. About 90% of the 2,000,000 Hani (or Hani) in China live in Yunnan Province. They are concentrated on the southwestern corner of Yunnan along the Vietnam border in counties along the lower reaches of the Honghe River. About 30,000 live on the other side of the Vietnam border, and almost 400,000 more are in other Southeast Asian countries. There are 200,000 in Burma.

Hani, also called Woni or Houni, an official nationality of China. The Hani live mainly on the high southwestern plateau of Yunnan province, China, specifically concentrated in the southwestern corner. There are also several thousands of Hani or related peoples in northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam and in eastern Myanmar (Burma). Altogether they numbered some two million in the early 21st century. Thirteen subgroups of this official classification call themselves by other names, but they speak mutually intelligible Tibeto-Burman languages of the Sino-Tibetan language family. Classified as tribes of the larger Yi ethnic group, the Hani are believed to be a branch of the ancient Qiang from the north, appearing in the Dadu River region in Han times. They were slightly infiltrated by Thai who were fleeing the Mongols. Contemporary Hani are mostly farmers who produce two excellent types of tea and are also known for their remarkable terraced rice paddies. A distinct subgroup of the Hani known as the Akha live in China, as well as parts of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. They are believed to be of Chinese origin, though, for a variety of reasons, they have lived a wandering life. A notable feature of female dress is an elaborate headdress made with silver or white beads and silver coins. This and other features of the Akha culture are dissipating under pressure of both missionary work and other outside forces.

The Hani are one of China’s 56 officially recognized ethnic groups. They number around 1.6 million and are primarily located along the Hong River in the deep southern province of Yunnan. Many Hani are also located in Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. Most tourists visiting Yunnan have likely run into a Hani person, perhaps without even knowing it. This is because the Hani homeland is extremely beautiful and attractive to outsiders. Over 90 percent of China’s Hani live in the mountains between the Hong and Mekong rivers, where some of China’s most striking rice terraces are found. In fact, the agriculturally adept Hani are the ones who originally terraced the land in many cases. In addition to being beautiful, the area is also ecologically diverse and rich with mineral resources. The capital of the Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture is known as China’s “Tin Capital.”

It is often said that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space. It’s not true, of course; the crumbling, frequently overgrown structure is mostly no wider than a country road. But if the unaided human eye really can spot some of Earth’s engineered marvels from low orbit, then in China they must surely include the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces. Hacked from mountains in the country’s south-western Yunnan province, the sprawling terraces – hundreds of thousands of them – stack up over more than 160sq km to create one of the most spectacular and jaw-dropping landscapes on the planet. “Since ancient times, Hani people have built ditches and canals to divert spring water from mountains and forests to irrigate terraced fields,” said A Xiaoying, a Yunnan-based guide with specialist tour company China Highlights. “The amount of ditches required has been huge, needing a great deal of manpower and material resources, which individuals or villages could not afford independently.”

Yangjie Village in Yuanjiang County in southwest China’s Yunnan Province is mostly inhabited by the Hani people. They are one of the earliest farmers who built rice paddy fields on this mountainous area. Hani people here still preserve the traditional way of living and celebrate ethnic festivals like the kuzhazha and shiyuenian. The village is also the origin place of Hani people’s palm fan dance. Yunnan Province in southwest China boasts spectacular natural landscapes, biodiversity and diverse ethnic groups. Among China’s 56 recognized ethnic groups, 25 are in Yunnan. This livestream series takes you on tour to six cities or autonomous prefectures in Yunnan to see the little-known food, scenery and folk customs.

The Hani people mainly inhabit an area within the reaches of the Yuan and Lantsang Rivers. This is a branch of the ancient Qiang people who had been nomadic on the Tibetan Plateau and then emigrated southward. The Hani ethnic group now has a population of 1,424,990. Their language belongs to the Yi branch, Tibetan-Burman group of the Sino-Tibetan phylum. The language has no characters of its own, so in 1957 the Chinese government created a set of spelling characters based on Latin. They are convinced that everything has soul, so they worship many gods and their ancestors. In the 1920s, Christianity and Buddhism had spread to them, but with little influence. The person who is designated to hold the religious activities is hereditary and doctors cure patients with witchcraft and herbal medicine. Calculated according to the Hani calendar, the first day of the tenth month is the festival of most pomp. It is customary for the people to sing, dance and drink, even overnight, and to make sacrifice to their ancestors. Ku-Zha-Zha is celebrated for three days in the sixth lunar month. On the first day, men go to the public place to kill an ox and share with all the people in the village; the second day women get up early and clean their houses, then prepare sumptuous dinners to worship ancestors; on the third day all the people wear their flowery clothes and hold many entertainments like swinging, and singing.

The Hani ethnic group is one of the many unique tribes in Yunnan Province. With a population of 1,424,990, they are mainly distributed over the mountain areas between the Red River and the Lancang River in Yunnan Province. The Hani ethnic group shares the same origin with the Yi and Lahu ethnic groups. According to the historical records, they all evolved from the ancient Qiang people. The Qiang people used to be a nomadic tribe living in the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. Later one branch of them moved south and early by the 3rd century, their forefathers had inhabited the swampland along the Dadu River and Yalong River. In the 7th century, they immigrated into the area near Mt. Ailao and Mt. Wuliang. In the Tang and Song dynasties, this area was successively reined in by the Nanzhao and Dali kingdoms. The Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368) established a prefecture to rule the Hani and other ethnic groups in Yunnan. The Ming Dynasty (1368 – 1644) exercised its rule through local chieftains, who were granted official posts. During the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1911) court officials replaced the chieftains. The Hani ethnic group comprises over twenty subgroups. They used to be called ‘Hani’, ‘Heni’, ‘Budu’, ‘Biyue’, ‘Yani’, etc. With the founding of the PRC in 1949, following consultation with the ethnic group, it was decided to agree upon the official name of Hani ethnic group.

Hani legends tell of a lost book containing their own script. As the legend goes, the Creator God wrote their script on buffalo skin, but during a long journey, the Hani people became hungry and ate the book, leaving them without a written language. The Hani migrated from China to northern Vietnam about 300 years ago. Today they are in Vietnam, Laos, and China. Over 25,000 of them live in Vietnam, and fewer than 15 are followers of Christ. They are typically farmers and follow a mixture of religions including Taoism and animism. Currently, the Hani has a few gospel recordings in their own language.