Ethnographic Study of Dorla Tribe

Abstract

Dorla tribe, a subcaste of Gond tribe inhabits in Sukma and Bijapur districts of Bastar division. They speak Dorli dialect of their own. Their clans are divided into two and marriage within the same clan is prohibited. Their family is mostly of nuclear type with 5 to 6 members. Their economy is based on the collection of forest produce, agriculture, animal husbandry and labour work. Almost all families are landholders. Generally the annual income per family is 25379.

In this tribe, delivery is done at home with the help of a traditional midwife called Mantar Sani. The first ceremony called Purud (Chhatti) is performed on 6th day of childbirth and Mundan ceremony after 3 months. Some other rituals in Dorla tribe are Mukh Kotana - piercing the nose or ear of a girl aged 5 to 6 years and Kala Goku ceremony which takes place when a girl attains her puberty. They practice cross cousin marriage and bride price custom also prevalent in them. In Dorla society, when a person dies they bury the corpse in a place isolated from village. The death rituals Chinna Binal takes place on the 3rd day and Pedda Binal on the 11th day.

Their village deity is Gamam in which the idol is made of mahua wood.They observe festivals such as Mahua Pandum, Beej Pandum, Jirra Pandum and the festival of paddy like Koddi Pandum, kodata Pandum and so on. They believe in animism.