Garasiya Tribe: Garasiya is the third largest tribe of Rajasthan. The people of Garasiya tribe consider themselves the scions of Chauhan Rajputs. Their houses, lifestyle, language, customs, bow and arrows are the same as that of Bhils.
Inhabitation: Abu road and Chhindwara tehsil of Sirohi, Bali of Pali district, Gogunda and ICotra Tehsils of Udaipur are the main native regions of Garasiya tribe. The Bhankhar area in Abu road is considered their native place. Before arrival of the Rajputs, Garasiya tribe ruled over the hilly areas of Sirohi, Pindwara and Abu road. The villages of Garasiyas are found to be scattered far and wide in the mountains.
Social System:
Some of characteristics of social life of Garasiyas are given below:
1. In a Garasiya village, people of the same clan (Gotra) live.
2. People of Garasiya tribe have nuclear families and the families are patriarchal.
3. There are three types of marriage in Garasiya tribe – More – Bandhiya (customary marriage), Paharawna and Tanana.
4. Tribal Panchayat plays an important role in social system of Garasiyas. The headman of Panchayat is called Sahalot.
5. Garasiyas take active part in local and religious fairs and choose their life partners there.
6. Male Garasiyas wear Dhoti and shirt and also they tie a towel around their heads. The women put on colourful dresses of bright colors.
7. They are the worshippers of Lord Shiva, Bhairava and Goddess Durga.
8. They have a custom of pricking tattoos on their bodies.
Economy: Most of the people of Garasiya tribe are engaged in primary economic activities. Their total economy depends on primary activities. Their chief occupations are shifting and traditional agriculture, rearing of animals, hunting, wood cutting and gathering forest produce. In the changing situations and surroundings, they have started working as labourers in the nearby towns and cities. Hari Bhawari is a form of co – operative agriculture, popular in Garasiya tribe. They store their food grains in Sohari (Kothi).
Sahariya Tribe: Sahariya is the largest backward scheduled tribe in Rajasthan. So, Indian Government has included it in the primitive tribes of India. The word ‘Sahariya’ is originated from the Persain word ‘Sahar’, which meant forest. Sahariya tribe lives only in forests, therefore they are called Sahariya.
Inhabitation: 98 per cent of people of Sahariya tribe dwell in Kishanganj and Shahbad Tehsils of district Baran. The houses of Sahariya tribes are called Taapri or Topa. Taapri is made of mud, stones, wood and grass – straw, while Topas are scaffolds built in the dense trees with the help of bamboo and logs of wood. The smaller colonies of this tribe are called Saharana, and villages, are called Saharal.
Social Life:
The characteristics of social life of this tribe are given below:
1. Nuclear family system is found in this tribe.
2. They follow a polygamous lifestyle.
3. They give high importance to Kinsmanship.
4. The birth of girls is considered a fortune.
5. The fair which takes place in Sitabari near Kelwara in district Baran is a very pious and religious occasion for this tribe.
6. They consider Rishi Valmiki as their penates and ancestor.
7. The males in Sahariya tribe put on Dhoti, shirt and turban, and women wear Ghaghara, loogari and shirt with long arms.
8. Pricking tattoos on the body is a popular fashion among women.
Economy: Since they live in forests, most of Sahariyas are engaged in primary – economic activities. Gathering herbs, stems, fruits, from forests, wood cutting, hunting, fishing, etc. are their major occupations. The people of Sahariya tribe also perform shifting agriculture. To obtain agricultural land, they keep on wandering here and there in the jungle. Very low literacy rate is seen among this tribe.
