The Juang are an Austroasiatic ethnic group found only in the Gonsaika hills of Keonjhar district of Odisha. Some Juangs, however migrated to neighbouring plains of Dhenkanal district of Odisha during the Bhuiyan revolt in the late 19th century. The Juang language belongs to the Munda family[citation needed] of the Austroasiatic languages. They are classified as a Scheduled Tribe by the Indian government.[1] The 2011 census showed their population to be around 50,000.
 A sketch of Juanga people in 1872 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 47,095 (2011)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| India Odisha | |
| Languages | |
| Juang language | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism• Sarnaism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Munda• Ho, Santhal •Mon-Khmer people |
History edit
The Juang tradition claims that the place where the tribe originated from the earth are the Gonasika Hills, near Keonjhar, at the source of the Baitarani River.[2] After the British declared their forests as reserves, the Juangs were forced to look for an alternative way of sustainance. They were skilled at basket-weaving, which was in demand in nearby caste villages. The Juangs would exchange their baskets for salt, oil, food, money from the village traders.[3]
Culture edit
Their traditional folk dance included vigorous dances mimicking birds and other animals.[4] They celebrate festival such as Pusha Purnima, Amba Nuakhia, Pirha Puja, Akhaya Trutiya, Asarhi, Gahma etc.[5]
Formerly the Juang used to be also known as Patuas, literally "leaf-wearers". Traditionally the women wore girdles of leaves,[6][7] while the men wore a small loincloth.
References edit
- ^ a b "Census of India Website : Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India". www.censusindia.gov.in. Government of India. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
- ^ Gonasika Hill, near Keonjhar, origin of River Baitarani
- ^ Naveen, Patnaik; Choudhury, B.P.; Seeland, K.; Rath, A.; Biswal, A.K.; Giri, D.B. (2007). Forest tribes of Orissa : lifestyle and social conditions of selected Orissan tribes. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld. ISBN 9788124604151. OCLC 49332310.
- ^ "Juang | people". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
- ^ "Juang". scstrti. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ Colonel Edward Tuite Dalton - Lithographs & Plates - Juang girls
- ^ Dalton, Edward Tuite. "Lithographs and Plates - Juang girls". University of Swansea. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
Bibliography edit
- Acharya, Sabita; Mohanty, S. K. (2015). Ethnography of Juang Tribe Odisha. Gyanajuga Publication. ISBN 978-93-85798-44-3.
- Dāśa, Rabinārāẏaṇa (1992). Art and Culture of the Juang. Orissa Lalit Kala Akademi.
- Patnaik, N. (1989). The Juang. Tribal and Harijan Research-cum-Training Institute, H. & T.W. Department.
- Forest Tribes of Orissa: The Juang. D.K. Printworld. 2002.
- Sahoo, Madhusmita; Naidu, T. Subramanyam (2017). A Heritage of Tribes in India: Ethnic Diversity of the Juang Tribes. SSDN Publishers & Distributors. ISBN 978-93-83575-07-7.</ref>