Sahariya Tribe

Sahariya Tribe Latest News

Recently, in Madhya Pradesh, a Sahariya tribal woman’s death puts spotlight on unending urea queues.

About Sahariya Tribe

• It is one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG).
• The Sahariya community is also called by the names Seher, Sair, Savar, Saonar, Sahra, etc.
• They live on the margins — in the forests and villages of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. 

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Living condition and Social Structure of Sahariya Tribe

• They mostly live in a distinct settlement called ‘Seharana’ which is generally a cluster of houses.
• The houses are made of some stone boulders, and the roofing is also made of stone slabs – locally called Patore. In some villages, mud structures are also constructed.
• Religion and Language
  • Language: While the Sahariyas have lost their original language, they speak the local dialects of the regions they inhabit.
  • The Sahariya practice their traditional ethnic religions. 
  • They are known for their dance, the Saharia Swang, which is performed during the month of Holi.
  • The dance is performed to the beats of the dhol, nagari, and matki.
  • It features a male dressed in female attire who dances around the male performers.
• Livelihood: They are predominantly forest dwellers and make their living from forest produce, additionally cultivating small plots of land and work as landless labourers. 
• They are particularly skilled in making catechu from khair trees.

Source: IE