The Oraon उरांव or Kurukh कुड़ुख tribe (Kurukh: Oṛāōn and Kuṛuḵẖ), also spelled Uraon, Oran, or Oram, are tribal aborigines inhabiting various states across central and eastern India as well as Bangladesh. Traditionally, Oraons depended on the forest and farms for their ritual and economic livelihood, but in recent times, a few of them have become mainly settled agriculturalists. Small numbers of Oraons have immigrated to the northeastern part of India, where they are mainly employed in tea estates.
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The Kurukh or Oraons are the tribals of Chota Nagpur Plateau. Oraon appears to have been assigned to them as a nickname by their masters, possibly with reference to their many migrations and proneness to roam, however they like to be called as Kurukhar. [1]
The Ekka, Tigga,Barla,Kujur,Lakra,Tirkey,Bakhla,Toppo,Kispotta, Minz, Kachhap and Kerketta are some common sub casts.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Oraon are known as Dhangar Hatkar. Those of Uttar Pradesh have been assimilated by neighbouring Hindu society, and as such have scheduled tribe status. They are divided into many totemistic clans. The community is concentrated in Mirzapur District.[2]
The Oraon people have a rich range of folk songs, dances and tales, as well as traditional musical instruments. Both men and women participate in dance, which are performed at social events and festivals. Mandar, Nagara and kartal are the main musical instruments.
A sizable numbers of Oraon have immigrated to the northeastern part of India, where they are mainly employed in tea estates of West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura.
The Oraon Adivasi followed the 'Sarna' Dharam (Sarna religion) but due to the influence of Hinduism and Christianity some of the groups started following Sarna in Hindu style, as Bishnu Bhagats, Bacchinda Bhagats, Karmu Bhagats and Tana Bhagats; others accepted Christianity. The Oraons have established several Sarna sects. Oraons worship Mahaedeo (a name given for Dharmesh). Oraon believe every thing in nature has its own deity or god. They are adopting Hinduism in most places.
Kamru Bhagats (Oaron or Munda devotee) originated when Oarins acquired special powers after making a pilgrimage to Kamakhya in Asom to pay respect to the Durga.[3]
Tana Bhagats were formed by Oaron saints Jatra Bhagat and Turia Bhagat. The Tana Bhagats opposed the taxes imposed on them by the British and they staged a Satyagraha (civil disobedience movement) even before Gandhi's satyagraha movement. All Tana Bhagats were the followers of Mahatma Gandhi during the Independence movement and participated in the movement. Still Tana Bhagats wears khadi kurta, dhoti and Gandhi topi (cap) with tricoloured flag in their topi. All the Tana Bhagats are performing pooja to the Mahadeo and the tricolour with charakha symbol on it fixed at their courtyard.
Most of population are Sarna (following Sarna Dharma, in which Dharmesh is the supreme almighty[4]). Sarna perform religious rituals under the shade of a sacred grove. Sarna worship The Sun as Biri and the Moon as Chando. Chando Biri are the words which been used in the Sarna Puja. They called the earth Dharti Aayo (Earth as mother).
A large number of Oraons abandoned their original beliefs of Sarna .In fact, the 19th and 20th century troubles were mainly due to the hoarding malpractices of the British traders . These led to indirect deaths of millions of Biharis and Bengalis.The Christian missionaries found the Oraon community depressed and without food. Due to their missionary activities, many of them turned Christians.
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This article includes material from the 1995 public domain Library of Congress Country Study on India.