Malhar Koli
The Malhar[1] also known as Panbhare[2] is a Subcaste of the Koli caste found in the Indian states of Gujarat,[3] Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka.[4][5] The Malkar used to work as Yeskar and they were Subedar or fortkeeper of Sinhagad, Torna and Rajgad forts during time of Shivaji.[2][6] Their local traditional dance is Tarpa Dance in Maharashtra.[7] they worship the Waghowa devi which is a lion goddess.[8]
Origin
The name of Malhar Kolis is probably derived from either (i) the Dravidian word 'Mala' meaning hill or (ii) from a description of the tribe as 'Kolis worshiping the god Malhar.[2]
Malhar Kolis is mainly concentrated in Palghar , Dahanu , Wada , Jawhar , Vasai and Bhivandi tehsils of Thane district of Maharashtra.[9]
Clans
Here are some of the clans of Malhar Kolis:,[10]
- Barad
- Babar
- Bodle
- Balshi
- Bhoye
- Basvant
- Bhoir
- Bhomte
- Bhavar
- Chakar
- Dalvi
- Dumade
- Dongarkar
- Dhangade
- Dhapasti
- Ghatal
- Gadag
- Golim
- Gavade
- Gahade
- Hadal
- Harke
- Jadhav
- Jimbal
- Kharpade
- Karmode
- Kathe
- Katar
- Kamadi
- Khatali
- Kirkire
- Lade
- Lilke
- Mali
- Mor
- Morghe
- Matera
- Madake
- Narale
- Patara
- Ravate
- Shironde
- Savare
- Shelkar
- Sumda
- Sagane
- Surum
- Sambre
- Talhe
- Tandel
- Tambade
- Tilivada
- Tope
- Umbarkar
- Wayade
- Wardha
- Warkhande
- Welpade
- Wangha
- Satav:[11] this clan of Malhar Kolis is the hereditary priest of the Mahalaxmi temple of Dahanu which was built by royal Koli family of Jawhar state.
Classification
The Malhar Kolis are classified as Scheduled Tribe by the Government of Maharashtra.[12] In some area, Malhar Kolis classified as Other Backward Class, or OBC caste by Government of Gujarat.[13]
Dance culture
The Malhar Kolis have several dance form to enjoy their marriage and holiday season. Here are some details:,[2]
- Tarpa Dance: This dance is called so because the wind musical instrument played is Tarpa. While performing this dance, the tarpa player dances in the centre and is encircled by 30 to 100 men and women holding hands on shoulders and hips of their partner in order to form a chain. The circle is known as "Peran", which is led by a person known as gholya who gives rhythm with a stick having bells (Ghungroo). This stick is known as "ghol kathi". Nearly 15 to 20 steps and movements are changed, while performing the dance. This also means that the tarpa player changes to all the varieties of tunes, which helps the dancers to change steps. The Malhar Kolis perform this dance during Diwali (festival of lights) season. There are no special costumes for the dance. Men wear shorts or loin cloth, and dance with or without a shirt or banian. The women folk wear a Sari and a Blouse, their normal dress.
- Gauri Dance: Young boys and girls take part in this dance. This dance is performed mostly during Ganesh festival which is popularly known as "Gauri Ganapati" among the Malhar Kolis. "Dholki" -a longish drum is played during this dance. The Dholki player usually plays "Lavni" a sought of fast rhythm to warm up himself and signals the dancers to be alert before the beginning of the dance. Then they dance around the drummer, who usually faces the east, the direction of life.
- Tabala Dance: This dance is only performed by males. Instruments played during this dance are:
(1) Dholki
(ii) Tadpady
(ii) Ghungroo
Two males play the drum and tadpadya respectively. To begin with one of the dancers from the circle starts singing. He is accompanied by other dancers. It is only after this, the drums are beaten. There are nearly 8 to 10 varieties of beats (talas), Changing of rhythm or beats results into changing of steps. This dance is performed after sowing during the rainy season, until the harvest, i.e., during Diwali festival season. All the dancers love to wear ghungroos (bells) around their ankle. Thus, there is accurate co-ordination of the drum beats and the side rhythm of the tinkling bells.
- Kambad Dance: The famous Kambad dance of the Malhar Kolis is performed by male members only. They are accompanied by the singing women, who usually sit or stand besides the dancing circle. All male dancers wear ghungroo around their ankle. While this dance is being performed one or two dancers wear costumes of women or even act like insane personnel and crack jokes to entertain the witnessing crowd. Our respondents said that this dance is performed to please the God of rains to send rains. This reflects in the songs sung by them. Like the Warlis, the Malhar Kolis also perform this fertility dance to please the goddess of grains-Kansari, to give them plenty of crops. This dance is performed at the onset of monsoon to request the clouds to fertilize, the seads sown.
References
- ↑ "Aarey tribals receive notice from Slum Rehabilitation Authority; housing minister Jitendra Awhad to intervene". Hindustan Times. 2022-02-12. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Prasad, R. R. (1996). Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes. New Delhi, India: Discovery Publishing House. pp. 92–98. ISBN 978-81-7141-298-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Services, Hungama Digital. "Tata Steel organizes its second regional 'Samvaad' 2017 at Netrang, Gujrat". www.tatasteel.com. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ↑ HARAD, PRANITA A.; JOGLEKAR, P.P. (2017). "A STUDY OF FISH SYMBOLISM IN THE LIFE OF THE SON KOLI COMMUNITY OF MUMBAI". Bulletin of the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute. 77: 121–130. ISSN 0045-9801 – via JSTOR.
- ↑ Russell, Robert Vane (2022-01-04). The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India: Ethnological Study of the Caste System. New Delhi, India: E-artnow.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Ghurye, Govind Sadashiv (1957). The Mahadev Kolis. New Delhi, India: Popular Book Depot. p. 7.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ "In the tarpa, the Warli, Malhar Koli and Bhil tribes find a reflection of — and way to celebrate — their natural environments-Living News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 2019-10-30. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ↑ Aug 10, Nergish Sunavala | TNN | Updated:; 2014; Ist, 06:27. "A leopard for a neighbour - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ Hiramani, A. B. (1997). Cultural Correlates of Tribal Health. New Delhi, India: B.R. Publishing Corporation. p. 57. ISBN 978-81-7018-823-0.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Singh, Kumar Suresh; Bhanu, B. V. (2004). Maharashtra History. New Delhi, India: Popular Prakashan. pp. 98–100. ISBN 978-81-7991-101-3.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ Tribhuwan, Robin D. (2003). Fairs and Festivals of Indian Tribes. New Delhi, India: Discovery Publishing House. p. 26. ISBN 978-81-7141-640-0.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ↑ "List Of Scheduled Tribes - TRTI, Pune". trti.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-03-30.
- ↑ "List of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes of Gujarat State | List of Castes | Director, Developing Castes Welfare". sje.gujarat.gov.in. Retrieved 2022-03-30.