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The Saoras Tribals (Orissa)
The
second backward tribal community is the Saoras. They are known by various names
such as "Savara", "Sabara", "Sora" and "Soura".
They are concentrated in parts of Gunupur adjoining to the blocks of Gumma,
Serango of Gajapati district. The Saoras have their own dialect. However, written
language in saora is not followed by all. They practice shifting cultivation,
with a few gradually taking up settled agriculture. Like Dongorias, they belong
to Proto Australoid racial stock.
They are endogamous and the clan, although absent, is related to "Birinda",
which is exogamous. Families are nuclear although joint or extended families
are also found. Marriages are made by bride capture, elopement and by negotiations.
Instead of clan organization they have their extended families called Birinda,
which consists of descendants from a common ancestors of four to five generation.
Marrige by negotiation is held ideal, though expensive. The saora’s religion
is very elaborate and deep rooted. They are polytheist and believe in large
number of deities and ancestral spirits. They practice both Podu and terraced
cultivation with varieties of cereals. They also collect minor forest produce
for their livelihood. They are very artistic people and are famous for their
wall paintings called EDITAL. Dance and music constitute part and parcel of
their rich aesthetic life.
The Saoras practice swidden or shifting cultivation. They are more adept or
skilled in terraced cultivation where they grow varieties of cereal and pulses.
The saora family is polygamous. The total household economy revolves around
the woman member who is hardworking and who helps her husband in
ploughing
and harvesting crops in addition to attending household chores exclusively.
Like the Dongorias, the Saoras are highly religious with each and every natural
phenomenon attributed to the works of some Gods, deities or spirits. Therefore,
the customary law, values, norms are highly respected by all members of the
society for the fear of inviting personal or communal harms. The social control
mechanism revolves around the religious beliefs, which are very strong.
The tribals of Rayagada observe a string of festivals. Some are closed affairs,
relating to a birth or death within the family or daughter attaining puberty.
Others relate to sowing or harvest time and these involve the entire community.
Mostly, a festival is an occasion for a good of Mahua liquor or HANDIA liquor,
a game roasted on the spirit and a night of song and dance and reveling. But
that is not the end. There is an animal sacrifice too for the deities and spirits
must be appeased first, particularly the malevolent ones so that they will not
face drought or sickness of land.
