MYTHOLOGIES OF THE 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.