The society of the Banjara tribe in Jharkhand is a recognized part of the tribal community. The Banjaras are very small tribe. They are mostly found in the Rajmahal sub-division of Sahebganj District of Jharkhand. The people of Banjaras lead an organised life. The Banjara women uphold the culture of the family. They exercise a significant role in socialising their children. They impose discipline in the household and also assist her husband in his work. They are skilled in handicraft works hence they engage in making mat, basket, broom, tray from the leaves and grasses in the forest. They also play the role of a family doctor as they have knowledge of the medicinal values of the plants and different herbs available. The Banjara children do not go to school instead they help their parents in the household works. The Banjara youth move from door to door performing in different villages. During off season they engage in collecting, hunting and other agricultural work. On the other hand, the aged people rest back at home training the young the art of dancing, singing and playing instruments. Thus the whole family organization of the Banjaras is well structured.
Family of Banjara Tribe
The Banjara family is patriarchal. Father is considered as head of the family and all the authority is vested in him. They have the nuclear family structure which consists of husband, wife and their un-married children. After marriage, the daughter leaves her father`s house and goes to live in the house of husband. The sons usually establish separate houses after their marriage but sometimes the married sons continue to stay with their parents to look after them. They even share the property of their father.
Marriage of Banjara Tribe
Among the Banjaras the usual form of marriage is monogamy. Dowry practise is prevalent among the Banjaras. Bigamy and Widow re-marriage is also practised. The Banjaras practice tribe endogamy and clan and village exogamy. Cousin marriages are strictly prohibited. .The marriage rituals of Banjara Tribe are observed and carried out by the kins and relatives of the bride and the groom.
Kinship of Banjara Tribe
The kinship system of the Banjara Tribe is based on two types of relationships; they are blood relationship and marriage relationship. The blood ties are continued for generations together. All ascendants and descendants are kins who are united through blood. Marriage transmits blood relation through reproduction. Blood relation is established between the husband, wife and their children. Marriage binds not only the couple but also the kins on either side through the bond of kinship. Even the husband and the wife establish relationship with either family through kinship. Thus marriage binds together families under the kinship structure.
The Banjaras use classificatory and descriptive kinship terms to denote their relatives. Classificatory terms are used in case of designating relatives while relations between two persons are denoted with descriptive kinship terms. The Banjaras are divided into clans, Kaslogapa and Garga. Clans share the same blood hence inter clan marriages are prohibited.
The means of conduct and behaviour among the Banjaras are also denoted with Kinship usages. Kinship usages like avoidance, joking, takenonymy are applied while kins meet up with each other. Banjaras follow the patrilineal descent in regards to inheritance of property.
