Assignment 1

Assignment-1
UTKRISHTA TARAFDAR - 21BDC051

ASUR TRIBE
ABOUT ASURA TRIBES
Asur people are a very small Austroasiatic ethnic group living primarily in the Indian state
of Jharkhand, mostly in the Gumla, Lohardaga, Palamu and Latehar districts.
Out of the 76 Primitive Tribal Groups in India 40 Tribal Communities live in West Bengal Asur is one
of them which is considered to be the oldest community in India It fall under Proto-Australoid
category of ancient human who started migrating from Africa around 65,000 years ago: They
speak Asurt language which belongs to Austro-Asiatic family of languages.
ORIGIN
Ashur is one of the 40 Scheduled Tribes of West Bengal who claim to be the descendants of this
same name in the past. However, it is true that the word Ashur is inscribed in multiple Hindu
scriptures. Such as Rig Veda, Brahmadanda, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Puranas etc. In trying to find
the answer, the court first mentioned the name of a small indigenous group in America, "Nowaho".
They belong to the reserved group. Interestingly, the Americans call them nowa-ho, but the people
call themselves tribe people.
Asur Tribes Descendants in modern India
CULTURE
Asur's culture is found embedded in their household possession which includes utensils, furniture,
war weapons, hunting implements, iron-smelting implements, baskets, dress, ornaments etc. The
Asur build their house with the help of mud, wooden poles, bamboo, leaves, grasses and tiles. The
house is rectangular in shape. Each house consists of one or two rooms with a balcony. There is
door and wooden gate and no window
For purpose of cooking they have earthen pots, aluminium utensils, iron utensils and some
utensils of bronze in their houses and even for serving food, storing water and grains. They use
many kinds of baskets for storing and carrying things. For hunting animals and for protecting
themselves from enemies they have axe, knife, Bhala, Ber, Kudal, Khanti, Khurapi elc for collection
of forest produce. Their musical instruments include Dhol and Flute
CLOTHES
The Asur Tribal men wear Dhoti and have a

Gamchha on their head or shoulder They wear
ganji and kurta when they have to go out of the
village. they use plastic shoes or slippers at the
time of going to market or to some other villages
The women wear Sari, Saya and Blouse.
Previously Asur woman used to cover their entire body with the same sari without Blouse and Saya
The Asur children wear Pant, Ganji, Shirt and Salwar Suit in late childhood In early childhood, the
children wear Ganji or Shirt only They purchase clothes from the local Haat Asur women are very
much fond of ornaments which they wear in fingers, wrist, neck, ear and feet. Their ornaments are
made up of bronze steel, glass, thread, wild seeds and imitation of gold and silver Now-a-days
tattooing is not so popular
OCCUPATION
Asurs are traditionally iron-smelters. They were once hunter gatherers, having also involved in
shifting agriculture.
Their indigenous technology of iron smelting gives them a distinct identity; as they claim to have
descended from the ancient Asuras who were associated with the art of metal craft. When
smelting, the Asur women sing a song relating the furnace to an expectant mother encouraging the
furnace to give a healthy baby, i.e., good quality and quantity of iron from the ore; and were thence,
according to Bera, associated with the fertility cult. But now a days a major section of the
population is also attached with mining work.
SOCIETY
The Asur society is divided into 12 clans. These Asur clans are named after different animals,
birds and food grains. Family is second prominent institution after the clan. The clans are Aind
(Eel), Dhan (Rice), Lila (Deer), Suar (Pig), Bharewa (Wild dog), Kerketta (A kind of bird), Munjani
(Anjun tree), Titio (A kind of bird), Beng (Frog), Khusar (A kind of bird), Non (Salt) and toppo
(Wood pecker).
DIVISIONS
The modern Asur tribe is divided into three sub-tribal divisions, namely Bir (Kol) Asur, Birjia Asur
and Agaria Asur. The Birjia are recognized as a separate schedule tribe
RELIGION
The Asur religion is the combination of animism, animatism, naturalism and ancestral worships.
They believe in black magic like Bhut-pret and witchcraft Asur's chief Deity is Singbonga; other
deities are Dharat Mata Duart Paldaraha and Tun Husid.
To get rid of the attack of Bhuta-Preta they go to the Ojha. They also have faith in Dain Some Asurs
Tribes have adopted Christianity. They visit churches and celebrate Christian festivals.
FESTIVALS
The festival they celebrate are like Sarhul,
Karma, Dhanbuni, Kadelta, Raj karma, Dasahara
Karam, Deothan Puja, Kharoch Puja, Khalihani
Puja Goraiya Puja, Phagu and Pilar Puja. The
Asur Tribe offer sacrifice of goat, chicks, duck
and eggs at the time of worship to please the
deity. They worship at community level, and all
the ritual is done by the sacred specialist called
Baiga.
MARRIAGE
Marriage is very important ritual and come essentially in the life of every individual. Only
physically disabled are not able to get married. The Asur follow the rule of monogamy, but in
case of barrenness, widower and widow hood, they follow the rule of bigamy or even Polygamy.
Widow remarriages are permissible. At the time of marriage, they follow the rule of tribe
endogamy. Those who do not obey these rules are thrown out from the community but are
allowed after paying seven times feast to the community members
CHALLENGES
Presently, the Asurs of Jharkhand are having many difficulties. They don't have access to
proper basic amenities like health services, education, transportation, drinking water, etc. They
are on the verge to become destitute because of the elimination of their traditional occupation
iron-smelting.. There have been cases of human trafficking of the minor girls, poverty is a
big reason behind it. These days a young Asur woman called Sushma Asur is striving hard to
preserve art, culture and the existence of her community.

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UTKRISHTA TARAFDAR - 21BDC051

The Asur Tribal men wear Dhoti and have a

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