Nagesar
Nagesar
This section has been extracted from THE TRIBES and CASTES of BENGAL. Ethnographic Glossary. Printed at the Bengal Secretariat Press. 1891. . |
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Nagasia, IIisam, a small Dravidian tribe of Chota Nagpur, described by Colonel Dalton as of dark complexion, short stature, and very ugly features. They have two sub-tribes, one of which uses vermilion (sindw') in their marriage ceremony, while the other substitutes oil. The names Sendarei and Tel iei have reference to this practice. Their sections bear totemistic names which occur among the Mundas and among many other Dravidian tribes. According to Colonel Dalton adult-marriage is in vogue, but matches are arranged by the parents. The standard bride-price is two baskets of rice and one rupee in cash. . In Sarguja the Nagesar worship the sun with offerings of white cocks, and sacrifice goats to Shikaria deota, but their chief god is said to be the tiger. In Jasbpur they swear by the tiger, but do not worship him, and their chief god is Moihidhunia, to whom fowls are offered every year and a buffalo once in three years. They also recognize Darha, the village god of the Mundas, and keep the Sarhed festival like them.