Toto – One of the Extinction Tribal Communities in West Bengal

This article holds the information about Toto community, one of the closes to total extinction tribal communities in West Bengal. From this article you will get ideas about Toto tribes, there life style, festivals of Toto tribal community people, marriage of Toto tribes and their religion

In the modern age of science, there are many tribal communities in West Bengal as well as in India which are still in the culture of primitive ages. Toto tribal community is one of such tribal community in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal.

Toto tribes belong to Indo-Bhutanese tribal community. People of Toto community mostly reside at totopara, a small locality of nearly 8 square kilometer area which is located at 22 kilometers away from Madarihat in Jalpaiguri district. Toto community people with Mongolian face are very few in numbers, nearly 1000 or few more. Government has taken many steps to facilitate the living hood of the Totos. Primary school, High school and health center are there in totopara. In 2011, 8 Toto students passed Madhyamik Examination.

Life Style of Toto tribal Community People

Like other community people in West Bengal as well as in India, Toto tribes also follow both joint family and nuclear family concept although most of them believe in joint family. Toto tribal community people believe in marriage but polygamy is also accepted. Marriage of Toto community people occurs within their community; even marriage between cousins is also accepted in Toto tribes. Marriage within same family members is a real threat to Toto tribal community. People of Toto tribal community are in the alarming stage as carrier of dreaded disease thalassemia and research reveals that intercast marriage is very urgent for this close to total extinction tribal communities. Average life span of Toto tribal community people is very low, 35 years.

Toto tribal community people describe themselves as Hindus. Toto tribes have faith in mainly two Gods, Ishpa and Cheima. Ishpa is male God and Cheima is a female God. Toto tribal community people worship their God and Goddess to remain healthy. Like many other tribes, Toto tribal community people also offer animals, liquor etc to their Gods.

Read More »

Tribal Fairs and Festivals in Purulia District of West Bengal

Purulia is a land of tribal festivals in West Bengal. Read this article to know about the tribal festivals in Purulia.

Here are the main tribal fairs and festivals in Purulia district of West Bengal.

Shiber Gajan: Gajan or Shiber Gajan is a famous festival in Purulia district.This festival is also popular as Chait Parab, Charak Puja. Shiber Gajan is held between middle of March to end of May every year.

Disum Sendra: This is a hunting festival of Santhals at Ayodhya Hill in Purulia during Baishakhi Purnima. Disum Sendra is also known as Shikar Parab.

Puja of Dharma Thakur and Mela: This local festival of Purulia is held from mid of April to mid of May every year.

Rohini Utsav: This festival in Purulia is celebrated by cultivators. On 13 Jaistha every year, the cultivators sow seeds and celebrate this Rohini Utsav festival.

Erohk Sim: This festival is similar to Rohini Utsav and this festival is celebrated by Santhals in the month of Asad (15 June to 15 July).

Batauli: Mundas celebrate the sow seed festival.

Manasa Puja: On the last day of Shravan month (15-16 August) every year,  puja of Manasa, the Goddess of snake is performed.

Karam Parab: This festival is celebrated in Purulia after completion of paddy cultivation.

Chata Parab:  Funds of this festival comes from rich people of the society.  Chata Parab is celebrated throughout the night with dance and songs.

Bhadu: Bhadu is goddess among the backward classes like Bagdis and Bouris. Bhadu Puja is a famous festival in Purulia and also in nearby district Bankura.

Bandhna Parab: Bandhna Parab is also a local festival in Purulia which is held every year after the Kali Puja. This festival or parab is famous among the Kurmi, Bhumij, Korha, Lodha communities. The same festival for Santhals and Mundas is known as Sohray.

Jathel Utsav: Jathel Utsav is mainly celebrated by Santhals in Purulia during 15 November to 15 December every year.

Raas mela: Raas Utsav or Raas Mela is celebrated in many parts of West Bengal and Purulia district is one of them. Raas mela is celebrated mainly in Purulia town in Purulia district during Agrahayan Purnima.

Tushu: Tushu Puja is celebrated by rural women in Purulia district. Tushu songs are very popular in Purulia.

Bhansingh Puja and Parab: In Purulia, Bhansingh is regarded as God of cattle. This Puja and festival is normally celebrated during the month of Magh according to Bengali calendar. Magh month falls during 15 January to 15 February.

Akhan Jatra: Akhan Jatra is regarded as an auspicious day in Purulia which falls on the first day of Magh month according to Bengali calendar.

Chandi Puja: Chandi Puja is celebrated during the month of Magh according to Bengali calendar. A popular fair is associated with this Chandi Puja in Purulia.

Magh Sim: A famous festival of Santhals which is held every year during the month of Magh according to Bengali calendar.

Baha: Baha is a spring festival to Santhals in Purulia. Night long dance and songs are associated with this festival. The same festival of Mundas is known as  Sarjan Baha.

Bhejabindha: Cock fight is very popular among the tribal in Purulia. Bhejabindha is a festival of Santhals and cock fighting is the main event of this festival.

Read More »

Santhal tribals in West Bengal

Santhals are the largest tribal community in India. Santhal tribes are found in eastern India and majority of the Santhal tribes resides in Jharkhan and West Bengal.

Santhal tribal community people are known to be very peaceful in India. Initially they used to stay in Bankura, Purulia, Birbhum and both the Medinipur districts. Forests provide them their live hood. From forests they got woods. Hunting animals in forests was another job which helped them to lead lives. Santhal tribes engaged themselves with enormous physical labour throughout the day time and in the evening they used to relax with songs and dance.
Our civilised society did not permit the Santhals to lead their own life. They are cheated beginning from the British Raj and till today the cheating is continuing. In ancient times the Zamindars and money lenders converted this peace loving tribal community into slaves.
Santhal tribes have a great history of fight against the British rulers. On 30 June 1855, Santhals fought against British rule under the leadership of Sidhu and Kanhu Murmu. In the war of unequal strengths, the Santhals were defeated. The revolution of Santhals has a great impact on British Raj policy. Many Santhal rebels were shot dead by British army.

Santhal Culture and Religion

The Santhal tribal community people love music and dance. Songs of Santhal tribes are totally different from our mainstream songs. Songs of Santhals are accompanied with dances and the musical instruments used by Santhal tribal community people are two drums, ‘Tamak’ and ‘Tumdah’ and flute. Santhal dance is very popular in our state.

Santhal tribal community people believe in supernatural power and ghosts. Santhals do not believe in idol worships and too many God and Goddess. Santhals worship Sun as father and Earth as mother. Animal sacrifice to appease God and Goddess is very common among the Santhal tribal community people.

Rituals and Customs of Santhal tribal community people

In normal situation, joint family is accepted by Santhal community people. Birth of new baby is celebrated among the Santhal tribal community people.  New member in a family is normally followed by a feast.
 Marriage of Santhals normally takes place within their own community. Pre-marital relationship is allowed in some cases.
Santhal tribal community people celebrate festivals throughout the year on many occasions. Read tribal festivals in West Bengal to know about Santhal festivals.

Read More »