The Oran tribe

INTRODUCTION
The Oran, one of the biggest Adivasi Groups are found in the districts of
Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga, Latehar, Palamau, Garhawa, Hazaribagh,
Dhanbad, Santhal Pargana, Singhbhum, Rohtas, Bhabhua etc.

The Orans or Orans are the most progressive tribes of all the tribes found in
India. They are the ones who are into education and places like Churches.
Kartik Oran, who was the most educated Oran, an Indian Congress leader
and former state communication minister of India, Albert Ekka, the
Paramveer Chakra awardees (Highest Award For Bravery in India), The
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ranchi, Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo,
are Oran. People of this comunity have shown exceptional makes as
compared to people of other tribes.

LANGUAGE
Orans speak the language called Kurukh which belongs to the Dravidian
Family and is related to the Pahari language ( language of mountains).
Kurukh has a special recognition as it is taught in Ranchi University.
The Oran language, Kurukh, belongs to the Dravidian family, and is most
closely related to Brahui and Malto (Paharia). Kurukh language is being
taught in Ranchi University in Jharkhand. A Kurukh Literary Society has
been formed after the first Kurukh Conference held in Ranchi in October,
2006.
LIVELIHOOD
Orans usually live in huts made of earth and
bamboo. Bird hunting and fishing and farming
are their main occupations. In every village
have two village heads namely the Loukik and
the Religious. Separate places are identified in
every village for social and religious activities.

DANCE AND MUSIC

The Oran people have a rich and vast range of folk songs, dances and tales,
as well as traditional musical instruments. Both men and women participate
in dance, which are performed at
social events and festivals.
Mandar, Nagara and kartal are
the main musical instruments.
There are ten different forms of
music and dance followed in
their tribe:
1. karma dance
2. Jaudra dance
3. Sharhul dance
4. Bheja dance
5. Angnai dance
6. Jatra dance
7. Dhamkach dance
8. panky dance
9. Marriage songs
10.Jhumar songs

RELIGION - SARNAISM
The Oran Adivasi followed the 'Sarna' Dharam (Sarna religion) but due to the
influence of Hinduism and Christianity some of the groups started following
Sarna in Hindu style, as Bishnu Bhagats, Bacchinda Bhagats, Karmu Bhagats
and Tana Bhagats; others accepted Christianity. The Orans have established
several Sarna sects. Some belong to the 'Bishnu Bhagats' and 'Bacchidan
Bhagats' of Lord Vishnu while the 'Kamru Bhagats' and 'Tana Bhagats' are
devotees of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga. Oran believe in nature and its
power. According to Oran's philosophy the whole world (Universe) is
regulated by a superpower that is 'Dharmesh'in Kurukh which simply points
to the almighty. The Dharti (the earth), Chando (the moon) and Biri (the Sun)
are its representative divine powers, which are the prime sources of
supernatural powers. Oran's names and sects are often similar as those of
Caste Hindu of Indian society. The religion of Oran is based on their belief in
nature and its supernatural power. Whereas the bases of Hinduism are four
Vedas and four Vernas, The Gotras system of Oran is based on natural totem
systems. Oran do not follow a rigid caste system. Orans worship Mahaedeo
(a name given for Dharmesh). Oran believe every thing in nature has its own
deity or god.

WORSHIP OF ANCESTORS
The pitras or ancestors are worshipped at every festival, and when the new
rice is reaped a hen is offered to them. They pray to their parents to accept
the offering and then place a few grains of rice before the hen. If she eats
them, it is a sign that the ancestors have accepted the offering and a man kills
the hen by crushing its head with his closed fist. This is probably, as
remarked by Father Dehon, in recollection of the method employed before
the introduction of knives, and the same explanation may be given of the
barbaric method of the Baigas of crushing a pig to death by a beam of wood
used as a see-saw across its body, and of the Gond bride and bridegroom
killing a fowl by treading on it when they first enter their house after the
wedding.

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Many of population are Sarna (following Sarna Dharma, in which Dharmesh
is the supreme almighty) . Sarna perform religious rituals under the shade of
a sacred grove. Oran Christians no longer perform most of the traditional
rituals; however, Karma, a festival performed during the rainy season, is still
performed in church in a modified form. Sarna worship The Sun as Biri and
the Moon as Chando. Chando Biri are the words which been used in the
Sarna Puja. They called the earth as Dharti Aayo. Oran worship nature and
believe that the great consciousness or The God is nature itself. The Oran
believe in equality and respect individual rights to worship anything or
everything or nothing as per individual own perceptions. They also call the
spirits of ancestors at their home for living with them, as they believe that
they possess kind heart and divine power and do well for their family. They
do not believe in hording wealth and believe in simple life to live on. The
Pahans and Pujaris who perform Puja and other rituals in the community or
village get a piece of land for livelihoods until they shoulder the
responsibilities.

SOCIAL RULES
The Orans do not now admit outsiders into the tribe. There is no offence for
which a man is permanently put out of tribe, but a woman living with any
man other than an Oran is expelled. Temporary expulsion is meted out for
the usual offences. The head of the tribe is called Pannu, and when an
offender is reinstated, the Panna first drinks water from his hand, and takes
upon himself the burden of the erring one’s transgression. For this he usually
receives a fee of few rupees, and in some States the appointment is in the
hands of the Raja, who exacts a fine of a hundred rupees or more from a new
candidate. The Orans eat almost all kinds of food, including pork, fowls and
crocodiles, but abstain from beef.

MARRIAGE
Marriage rituals in the Oran community are similar to those of Santhals and
Mundas. Marriages are arranges by the guardians in the family, but the
opinions of the brides and bridegrooms are also respected. Child marriage is
not recognized. Divorce, as well as widows, can marry more than once but,
men are not allowed a second marriage unless they are widowed or are
divorcees.
CUSTOMS AT BIRTH
“The Orans,” Fr Dehon continues, “are a very prolific race, and whenever
they are allowed to live without being too much oppressed they increase
prodigiously. What strikes you when you come to an Oraon village is the
number of small dirty children playing everywhere, while you can scarcely
meet a woman that does not carry a baby on her back. The women seem, to a
great extent, to have been exempted from the curse to our first mother:’ Thou
shalt bring forth, etc.’ they seem to give birth to their children with the
greatest ease. There is no period of uncleanness, and the very day after giving
birth to a child, you will see the mother with her baby tied up in a cloth on
her back and a pitcher on her head going, as if nothing had happened, to the
village spring.” This practice, it may be remarked in parenthesis, may arise
from the former observance of the couvades, the peculiar custom prevailing
among several primitive races, by which, when a child is born, the father lies
in the house and pretends to be ill, while the mother gets up immediately and
goes about her work. The custom has been reported as existing among the
Orans by one observer from Bilaspur, but so far without confirmation.

NAMING A CHILD
“A child is named eight or ten days after birth, and on this day some men of
the village and the members of the family assemble at the parents’ house.
Two leaf-cups are brought, one full of water and the other of rice. After a
preliminary formula grains of rice are let fall into the cup, first in the name of
the child and then successively in those of his ancestors in the following
order: paternal grandfather, paternal great-grandfather, father, paternal uncle,
maternal grandfather, other relatives. When the grain dropped in the name of
any relative meets the first one dropped to represent the child, he is given the
name of that relative and is probably considered to be a reincarnation of
him.”
DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD
Oraon either bury or burn the dead. As the corpse is carried to the grave,
beginning from the first cross-roads, they sprinkle a line of rice as far as the
grave or pyre. This is done so that the soul of the deceased may find its way
back to the house. Before the burial or cremation cooked food and some
small pieces of money are placed in the mouth of the corpse.

-Dipanshu Nager
Xth B