Tribal Customs for Happy and Peaceful Family

Patalkot in Central India is abode of tribals. Gonds and Bharias are the two major tribes residing this valley. Tribals have a very different lifestyle. They have certain rituals and rules to live life happily. During my research work in the valley in between 1997-2004, I found the lifestyle of these tribals very interesting. Though, author was searching for traditional herbal knowledge of the tribals and the medicinal plants, but he came across many rituals performed by the tribesmen and women. They live in harmony and sustained their life by sharing knowledge to each other. They live to prefer in a joint family where they celebrate life in good times and stay same at the time they meet any problem. They have a very systematic routine. They always get up early in the morning and sit in Padmasana (A Yoga) posture and look at the sun, rub their palms together, and then pass their palms on the face and forehead. This means, the heat obtained by rubbing the palms is being spread over the face, eyes and forehead, keeping them happy whole day long and strong too. Ladies in the tribal community first of all salute/ bow in front of The Sun, throw a pinch of Haldi ka Kumkum and a pinch of sugar towards the Sun. Haldi ka Kumkum is basically dried and powdered Haldi (Turmeric) with a bit of slaked lime, which turns the rich yellow powder of Haldi into red color. According to them, they welcome Sun by doing this and this will bring good health and prosperity in the family.

One more thing very interesting about the Gond tribes in Patalkot is that they never take warm water bath even in winter. They apply Mustard oil in winter and Sesame oil in summer on the knees, hands and legs, neck, feet, face etc each day, before they take bath. Chhimmi lal a local inhabitant knows the secret of this. He says, “Massage gives good circulation of blood and also relieves the nerves too.” Tribals merely consume any milk products at night like curds or buttermilk.

On each Purnima (Full Moon Night) and Amavasya (New Moon Night), they sprinkle Gow-mutra (Cow's urine) in and around the house, especially near the entrance of the house, without fail. Significantly, they always keep Gow-muthra in the house. During the prayers, they light Deepak (A lamp) in front of God and Tulsi plant (Holy Basil) each evening without fail. They perform Agnihotra too (Agnihotra. a process of burning Cowdung cakes, incense/ Dhup, Cow's ghee with few other things). As per the ritual, Agnihotra has to be done at perfect timing, mostly at sunset times. Agnihotra keeps the family in prosperity and success.

During each Friday of the month of Shravana (fifth month of Hindu calendar and it corresponds to the month of July - August in English calendar), tribal women make some sweet dish for children in their home. First, they offer it to the God and then they put a Tilak (a mark of auspiciousness on the forehead) to children at sunset and give them the sweets. This offering of sweets makes their children healthy. Ramvati, a tribal woman, tells that it is for the betterment of their children. In the evening after prayer, they invite a Suvasini lady (married woman), and give them Kumkum, one flower, one fruit, and milk. In this way, Shravana Friday is very important time for the tribals. They do this every year.

In some villages in the valley, tribal ladies perform a different Pooja for happiness in the family. Every Friday, they light the Deepak in front of God at the sunset. Ladies take out any ornament from their body, either gold or silver, and keep in a small plate in the God's temple in the home. In Pooja, they use Haldi, Kumkum, flower and Bhog. Bhog is basically any fruit, Gud (Jaggery) and Chana (Gram seeds). The next morning, when she performs Pooja again, she removes the ornament from plate and wears it once again. She distributes Bhog to all in her family. Importantly, this Pooja is not performed during menstruations; they stop it and start once they free to do. During festivals, they take out Rangoli (A colourful design) in front of the house, they keep a twig of Mango on front door, or above and put few flower above the door with the Mango twig.

They teach their kids to pray before they go to sleep, and ask them to thank God for having given them this beautiful day in life. In fact, this is a very good habit and it makes them very perfect and punctual. Also teach them to pray to God once they are awake, to ask God to give them a better and successful day.

They do not plant any thorny and cactus plants inside the house. According to them, few plants bring agony and few bring unhappiness. They remain careful about growing plants within the house. There are so many things, which I have learnt from the tribals for betterment of the house, progress of the family, success for the kids and the peace for them, from books, from others ......

Importantly, for many tribals it does not hold any importance, they just ignore these rituals. Yes, each one has his/her own views towards life. It is good that they dont do things under anyone's compulsions.