Bhil tribe

July 20, 2024

Recently, a large number of people from the Bhil tribe gathered at a rally in Rajasthan’s Mangarh Dham and again raised the “long due” demand for an independent ‘Bhil state’.

About Bhil tribe:

Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribes in India.
The name 'Bhil' is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow.
They could be identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
They are mainly divided into two main groups: the central and eastern or Rajput Bhils.
The central Bhils are found in the mountain regions in the Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Bhils are also found in the north eastern parts of Tripura.
Language: They speak Bhili, which is an Indo Aryan language.
Religion practice among the Bhils differ from place to place.
Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called 'vaghdev'.
They consult Badvas -the hereditary sorcerers on all the occasions.
Main festivals: The Baneshwar fairis the main festival celebrated among the Bhils. This fair is held during the period of Shivratri and is dedicated to Baneshwar Mahadev also known as Lord Shiva.