Tribal Marriage : Marriage IAS mains Sociology Optional

Tribal Marriage 

For Tribal, Marriage is a mere contract. Tribal practice eight types of marriage

I. Probationary Marriage

1. As per Probationary marriage, before marriage a boy can live in his sweetheart (ie girl) house for weeks  together,

2. If a boy and girl like each  other, they will marry. If they don't like boy will give cash compensation to the girl's  parents. He will come out

3. It practiced by Kuki Tribal

II. Marriage by Capture

1. As per marriage by capture, a boy captures/ kidnaps a girl and marry her. 

2. It was practiced by Naga, Ho, Gond, Bhil, Birhor trials

3. Sometimes, a boy captures a girl ceremonially. Eg: Kharia, a boy who captured a girl by applying vermillion to the girl. Surprisingly

4. Ho  tribal call marriage by capture as Oportopi

5. Gond tribal call marriage by capture as Posiother 

III. Marriage by Trial 

1. As per this boy will marry a girl after proving his personal courage and bravery in front of girl

2. Among Bhil tribal, during Holi festival day, unmarried boys and girls dance around a pole or tree. 

3. Girls make rings around a pole or tree.

4. Boys make an outer ring around a pole or tree.

5. Now any boy can enter a girl's ring, but girls resist entering the inner ring through tearing his clothes, pulling his hair, striking with broom sticks etc.

6. Successful boy enter the inner ring, climb a pole or tree. Hit a coconut which is tied on top of the pole or tree

7. After hitting, coconut boy can choose any girl from the inner ring for marriage.

IV. Marriage by Purchase

1. In marriage by purchase, boy purchase girl through paying a bride price or cash payment to girl  parents.

2.t is practiced by Naga, Rengma Naga, Ho, Angami Naga tribals

V. Marriage by Service

1. In marriage by service , a boy is unable to give a bride price to a girl's parents. 

2. A boy will work as a servant in a girl's house before marriage. 

3 . While working in a girl's house, boy will not receive wage 

4. After the lapse of some years, boy marry his land Lord daughter

5. It is practiced by Gond tribal

6. Servant cum future husband called Lamsena /Gaharia

VI. Marriage by Exchange

1. Marriage by exchange consists of exchanging sisters and brothers from two families for marriage.

2. Example,   Kilan marry Liyan's sister and Liyan marry Kilan's sister. 

VII. Marriage by Mutual Consent and elopement 

1. Marriage by mutual consent and elopement consists of   both a boy and girl run away from their families. 

2. Boy and  Girl marry together

3. Return home after childbirth

4. Parents accept them due to  lack of alternative 

5. Ho tribal  call this Rajilkushi 

VIII . Marriage by Intrusion

1. In Marriage by Intrusion, a girl  forcefully enters her sweetheart (a boy who is unwilling to marry her) house. 

2.  Boy will humiliate, insult her, but she will tolerate, 

3. Gradually, the boy's heart will change. 

4. Boy will marry girl who entered his house forcefully.

5. Ho, Bihor Oraon tribal practicing  marriage by intrusion or Anader.