Religion

Bhils from place to place, differ in their religious beliefs and practices. Some of the wildest tribes worship only the tiger god or ‘vaghdev’. Most are devotees of the ‘Mata’ and ‘Mahadev’. Others worship local deities like Khandoba, Kanhoba, Bahiroba and Sitalamata, the small-pox goddess. Almost all worship the spirits of their ancestors and believe in sorcery, witchcraft and omens. The /adivasis of Navapur Taluka have been residing through the hilly regions (generation to generation) and so the social life of the 'Tribal-Society' contain the following characteristics.

1. seperate language and speech - Each schedule community has its own seperate language and speech.

2. Seperate village panchayat - Each trible community has its own seperate village-panchayat through which the whole trible community is ruled and controlled.

3. Preference to traditions :- 'Tradition' is given main importance in the tribal community and this traditional tendency is passed from generation to generation through the medium of poetry, dances, songs and sports.

4. Importance given to religious rites :- Religions have much importance in the trible communities.

5. Belief in Superstities :- The schedule tribes community has due belief in magical tricks,spells,nature gods and evil spirits and these things are the part and parcel of their religions life.

6. Bhagat and guru :- It is a tradition in trible community to have a 'Guru' or a 'Bhagat' to perform any religious rite , medical treatment.

7. Reside in different areas :- each tribe resides in a particular area & hence their languages is differ from each other.

8. Consisted of different families or races :- Schedule Tribe community is consisted of different families or races such as 'Valvi', 'Padvi', 'Vasave', 'Gavit' , 'Mavachi', 'Naik' etc. The study of 'Trible Communities' includes different aspect of life such as 'Family Pattern', 'Marriage System' , 'Games & Sports' , 'Religious- Life', 'Rites' & 'Customs'.

THE FAMILY SYSTEM AND FAMILY LIFE Family

Family is supposed to be a 'Centrac-Profit' of the social institution and so it has got an important place in the community 'Family Means' a 'Group of members' formed through the foundations of the relatives or which is based on 'Marriage Factor.' The Navapur 'Taluka Family' is known as the 'Paternal Family System' in which the property & the earning of the family is in 'Joint Form' . After his father's death the eldest son of the family is supposed to be the 'heir' of the property. The younger brother lives with his elder brother till gets married and after his marriage, the elder brother hands him over the land. money & other articles of the joint property & allows him to settle his own new home. Through the two brother live seperately, they share their jup & sorrows together. The Adivasi family is 'self contained ' & 'shatly satisfied' women sonsand daughers in the family are free to live their own life old persons in the family are given proper respect and also treated most respectfully. Through the old people can't do hard work their orders are obeyed. All the brothers in the family have fantastic love for each other & the parents have an artificial or natural love for their kids. 'Adivasi family' possesses the tradition of 'multi-wives' . The widow in the family has also an important and respective place in the family & she was got the right of remarriage. There is no restrictions to get marry with the same family members. The community has the system of getting married even at a very early but in the proper age. The 'bride-gromic' party pays to the bride side. It is not necessary to put 'kum-kum or tikli' to the married women. There is a tradition or system of 'adapting a child' in this community.

Relationship of an Adivasi Family:

The 'Adivasi Family' relationship is closely & tightly based on mutual love, respect and humour between the parents & the son & daughter, uncle & aunt , mother-in-law & daughter-in-law, parental brothers & him brother's wife, paternal-sister & brother's wife, between two-brothers, grand-father & grand-mother etc.