Halbi

Halbi or Halba is a tribal community of India. It is mostly found in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra.

The word Halba is derived from word hal ("plough"). The Halba were farmers and landlords. The Halba tribes was the one of the major and most influential tribal group of state Bastar in the 17th century. Halba's are spread over different parts of India like Maharashtra, Gujarat and mainly in the Vidarbha (part of Maharashtra state) from Bastar. Halba tribes were active in the politics and military of Bastar State. The goddess of Halba tribe is Ma Danteshwari. The language of Halba tribe is "Halbi", which is combination of Hindi, Chhattisghari, Oriya and Marathi. Halba/Halbi tribe has no sub-castes. Halba, Halbi is included as a Scheduled Tribe in India but Maharashtra State of India has done injustice with Halba, Halbi people. There are no facilities for this Tribal people. They are not getting their constitutional rights. They are still untouchables and backward in education, jobs, politics, government because not getting their constitutional rights.

References

1. Gell, Simeran M. S., The Ghotul in Muria Society. Singapore: Hardwood Academic Publishers, 1993

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There are in all total 47 Scheduled tribes in Maharashtra.

main festival of halba Tribe

Tij, Hareli(Hariyali), Sirata '