Tharua

Abstract

This book is a visual portrayal of the life style of a little known artisan tribe of Odisha known as Tharua. They mainly reside in Balasore district and claim to be its original settlers. As per 2011 Census, their population in the state is 9451 and they are also largely concentrated in Mayurbhanj district. The Tharua are an endogamous community which has been dichotomized into two endogamous sections like TharuaBindhani (Black smiths) and Tharua Kumbhar (Potters). Though they have their traditional language called "Thar", Now, they speak Odia and use Odia script. They are an artisan community known for their black smithy, terracotta-pottery, stone working, carpentry and engraving. They supplement their economy by cultivation, wage earning and small business. They are non-vegetarians and do not eat pork and beef and hence, claim equal social status with the non-tribal clean castes. They follow patrilineal rule of descent and patrilocal rule of residence after marriage. The Tharuas profess a religion that is an admixture of Hinduism and Animism. They worship deities namely Mangala, Manasa, Sitala, Raudia, Thanamatho, Maissasuri and Biswakarma. Being an artisan community, they worship lord Biswakarma as their patron deity. They have their own traditional community council headed by Behera who adjudicates their customary disputes. Now-a-days, their society and culture are undergoing changes due to the impact of modernization as well as Government's development intervention. This book as a glimpse of the life style of the Tharua tribe will hopefully be useful to the interested laymen, academicians and researchers.