Bhil people

You may be looking for Bheel or Bil.

Bhil

Regions with significant populations
India               Gujarat 3,441,945               Madhya Pradesh 4,619,068               Maharashtra 1,818,792               Rajasthan 2,805,948 Pakistan 382,000[citation needed]
Languages
Bhil languages

Bhils (Hindi: भील, Urdu: بهیل: Bhīl) are primarily an Adivasi people of Central India. Bhils are also settled in the Tharparkar District of Sindh, Pakistan. They speak the Bhil languages, a subgroup of the Western Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages.

Bhils are listed as Adivasi residents of the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra,and Rajasthan in western and central India as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India on the border with Bangladesh. Bhils are divided into a number of endogamous territorial divisions, which in turn have a number of clans and lineages. Most Bhils now speak the language of the region they reside in, such as Marathi and Gujarati.

The Ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture.

Origin

Historically, the Bhil were tribals, residing in deep forests and experts in hunting: a fearsome tribe.

In feudal and colonial times, many Bhils were employed by the ruling Rajputs in various capacities, e.g. as Shikaris because of their knowledge of the terrain. Many had even become warriors in armies. They were in the Mewar army of Maharana Pratap Singh and like Chhatrapati Shivaji, were experts in guerilla warfare which the Mughal Empire had so much trouble handling. Today, there is a Mewar Bhil Corps.'

Khadem (tribe) The Khadem (Rajasthani: ख़ादिम, Urdu: خادم) The name "Khadem" comes from the Arabic khadem for service or care. The Khadem of Ajmer are converted Muslims from the Bheel religion[3] In the case the court hold as under "that Laikha and his brohther Taikha became muslim in samvat 1175 (samvat chandra bhat), It was samvat (vikrami) 1265 then Khadem are the descended of Laikha and Taikha, were bhil. Laikha's islamic name was Fakharuddin , Taikha's name was Mohammad Yadgaar... Khadem of Ajmer Are Converted Muslim Form The Bheel Religion ( From The Book - "The Shrine And Cult Of Mu'in al- din Chishti of Ajmer" By P. M. Currie (Author)Oxford University Press) Page. 146-147

In Hindu mythology, popular Bhil figures are Shabari, who offered Rama and Lakshmana half-eaten jujubes when they were searching for Sita in the forest. Matanga was a Bhil sage who became a Brahmana.

According to a Brahman parohit of the Ahirias at Hodal, the Baurias and Ahirias are descended from Goha, a Bhil who married a Thakur, and the children were Baurias and Ahirias where the Ahirias are very mixed and the pure unmixed Bhils are the Baurias.

In the Mahabharata also there is a popular story of Ekalavya, a Bhil, who developed his archery skill as equal to Arjuna. Drona asked his thumb in Guru-Dakshina.^{[citation needed]}

Rama appears in a Bhil myth where there has been a flood that wiped out humanity; he suggests how it can be repopulated. Bhils also believe in Bholo Iswor.^{[citation needed]}

Present circumstances

The Bhil are now mainly a community of settled farmers, with a significant minority who are landless agricultural labourers. A significant subsidiary occupation remains hunting and gathering. The Bhil are now largely Hindu, with Nidhi and Tadvi Bhil following Islam, and few sub-groups in the Dangs following Christainity. They continue to worship tribal deities such as Mogra Deo and Sitla Matta.

Sub-divisions

The Bhil are divided into a number of endogamous territorial divisions, which in turn have a number of clans and lineages. The main divisions in Gujarat are the Barda, Bhil Dungri Garasia and Bhil Vasava. While in Maharashtra, the Bhil Mavchi and Kotwal are their main sub-groups. In Rajasthan, their main divisions are the Bhil Gametia and the Bhil Kataria.^{[citation needed]}

Bheels of Bilag are considered as Hada Chauhan and are also known as Aahaari, while those of Kagdar are known as Rathore. Langotia Bhils wear a lion on waist which is known as Khoyatu. Their ladies wear ghaghara reaching up to the knee known as Kachhawa.^{[citation needed]}

Images

• 

  Bhil tribal girls in Jhabua

• 

  A Bhil tribe in Jhabua forests

• 

  Bhil girl in Raisen district, MP

• 

  Bhil woman in Raisen district, MP

• 

  Bhil woman in Raisen district, MP

• 

  Bhil woman in Raisen district, MP

See also

• Laika taika Bhil
• Laikha Bheel
• Badwa
• Ahoms
• bheelsedseÀàâĥĥ

External links

• The desert dwellers of Rajasthan: Bishnoi and Bhil peoples (essay)