Bhottada

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Bhottada
Total population
450,771 (2011)[1]
Regions with significant populations
 Odisha, India450,771[1]
Languages
Odia, Bhatri
Religion
Autonomous Tribal Religion[2]

The Bhottada (also known as Dhotada,Bhotra, Bhatra, Bhattara, Bhotora, Bhatara)[3] is an ethnic group found mainly in many districts of [[Odisha][Chhattisgarh] ].[2] The 2011 census showed their population to be around 450,771. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government.[1]

Etymology and origins[]

The name Bhottada is derived from the words Bhu meaning earth and Tara, meaning chase.[4] It is said that they migrated from Bastar.[2]

Subdivisions[]

The tribe is divided into two divisions called Bada and Sana. Badas are higher in social hierarchy, They claim to be of purer descent. The divisions are endogamous however now a days intermarriage takes place between them.[2]

Culture[]

They have a number of exogamous totemistic clans or gotras named after different animals such as tortoise, tiger, cobra, monkey, dog, lizard, goat, etc. The clan members who are of a particular animal totem respect the same animals.[2]

The clans has agnatic lineages formed as local descent groups who live close to each other in villages.[2]

Marriage by negotiation is called Bibha . It is considered ideal and prestigious. It involves elaborate process and is expensive. Other ways of acquiring mates such as by elopement, by capture, by service are practised. Cross-cousin marriage, junior levirate and sororate, divorce and remarriage are permitted on reasonable grounds.[2]

They bury their dead. They worship Hindu deities and their own pantheon includes Budhi Thakurani, Bhairabi Budhi, Pardesi, Basumata, Banadurga, etc. Their chief festibhals are Chait Parab , Akhiturti,Nua Khiaand Dussera. The traditional chief of the village is the Naik. He ,assisted by Chalan, Pujari and Gonda handle the community affairs. At the regional level a group of villages constitute a Desh headed by Bhat Naik and supported by Panigrahi and Desia Gonda who mitigate inter-village disputes.[2]

See also[]

  • Tribes of India

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Government of India. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h scstrti, scstrti. "Bhottada". Home. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  3. ^ Mhaiske, V.M.; Patil, V.K.; Narkhede, S.S. (2016). Forest Tribology And Anthropology. SCIENTIFIC PUBLISHER (IND. p. 167. ISBN 978-93-86102-08-9. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  4. ^ Singh, H.D. (1996). 543 faces of India: guide to 543 parliamentary constituencies. Newmen Publishers. p. 198. ISBN 9788190066907. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
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