Meena Tribe: Meena tribe ranks first among the tribes of Rajasthan. Meena community considers that its origin is from the Matsya – Avatar, who was the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Inhabitance: Meena tribe is found in almost every district of Rajasthan. Most of its population is found in Jaipur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Karoli, Alwar, Tonk, Bharatpur and Udaipur districts. Alwar , Bharatpur and Jaipur districts are considered the historical inhabitation of Meena tribe. This region was also known as the Matsya Pradesh. Most of population of Meena tribe is in Jaipur. It is the most educated tribe among all tribes in Rajasthan.
Social Life:
Some characteristics of social life of Meena tribe are given below:
1. In Meena tribe, matrimonial relations, Kinsmanship and blood relations are considered very important.
2. The girls are made to enter into matrimony at a very young age in Meenas, but the ceremonial bringing of a wife from her father’s to her husband’s home takes place on reaching puberty i.e., when they become mature.
3. They have patriarchal joint families.
4. The panchayats play important role in social life of Meeans. All the disputes related to Meena society – marriage, divorce, profligacy, etc. are decided through Panchayats.
5. Meenas have firm faith in their religious fairs and festivals.
6. Males of Meena tribe put on Dhoti and shirts, while women wear Ghaghara, Kanchli and Odhani.
7. Literacy has spread widely among this tribe, and so they have taken full advantage of reservation in government jobs.
Economy: Generally, Meena tribe is engaged in Agriculture. Besides, herding of animals is also their chief occupation. The fashion of sharecropping agriculture system is seen in this tribe. Among all tribes, Meena tribe in Rajasthan is the most educated. A large number of Meenas are posted in government services as well as other honorable services today.
Bhil Tribe: Bhil is the second most important tribe after Meenas in Rajasthan. It is considered to be the most ancient tribe in India. It is considered as a struggling tribe and the best archers. They live in houses made of bamboo and wood. The roofs of their house are made of single – lap tiling.
Inhabitance: Bhil tribe mainly belongs to Banswara, Dungarpur and Udaipur districts. Their inhabitance is random and forested. They live On the hills in scattered form.
Social Life: Bhil tribal people have patriarchal social system. Their economic system is based on agriculture and they are perfect in archery.
Some of the characteristics of their social life are given below:
1. Their social system is patriarchal. They have several patriarchal Gotras, called Atak.
2. Morbandiya marriage, Kidnapping marriage, Exchange marriage, service marriage, etc are customary.
3. Mainly, nuclear families are found in Bhils.
4. In Bhils, Bhopa (occultist), Gameti (headman) and Bhagat (the religious man) play important roles in their social life.
5. The famous and an important fair for Bhils is “Beneshwar Mela” which is held at the confluence of rivers Mahi, Som and Jakham on Magh Shukla Purnima every year.
6. Dancing on the carnivals, fiesta and performing worship is their important social custom.
7. Both males and females in Bhils put on metal ornaments and prick tattoo on their bodies.
8. Besides Hindu gods and goddesses, they also have several penates and they worship them regularly.
Economy: Economically, the people of Bhil tribe are poor and wanderers. Mainly, they are farmers. Fishing is also their economic activity. Hunting and gathering forest produce like herbs, stems, fruits, gum, mahua, annona squamosa, plums and wood are also Bhils occupations. Along with agriculture, herding of animals is also their occupation. At present, most of the Bhils are engaged as labourers in nearby towns and cities.
