Bhil Tribe

Bhil Tribe Latest News

A translated collection of folk tales of the Bhil tribe in Madhya Pradesh will be made available on the Ministry of Tribal Affairs’ Adi Vaani website and the app.

About Bhil Tribe

• Bhils are considered as one of the oldest tribes in India and identified as one of the Dravidian racial tribes of Western India and belong to the Australoid group of tribes.
• They are the most widely distributed tribal groups in India. 
• The name ‘Bhil’ is derived from the word villu or billu, which according to the Dravidian language is known as Bow. 
• Occupation: Nearly all of the Bhil engage in agriculture, some using the slash-and-burn (jhum) method but most employing the plow.
• Language: They speak Bhili (blend of Gujarati and Marathi), which is an Indo Aryan language.

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Distribution of Bhil Tribe

• 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.

Beliefs and Customs of Bhil Tribe

• Almost all Bhils practice ethnic religions that have been highly influenced by Hinduism. 
• Most of them worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba, and Sitalmata. Some worship the Tiger God called ‘vaghdev’.
• Main festivals: The Baneshwar fair is 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.

Source: TH