Vidarbha’s Tribal Roots: Bhil, Koli, Halba and Kaikadi

thenewsdirt
Apr 23
5 min read

In the eastern region of Maharashtra, Vidarbha stands as a landscape where varied communities have shaped its cultural identity across generations.

Among these groups are the Bhil, Koli, Halba, Kaikadi, and Warli communities, each with a documented history of presence, cultural practices, and livelihoods.

These communities bring together languages, traditions, occupations, and belief systems that reflect a shared space while retaining distinct identities.

Bhil and Koli: Agricultural Foundations and Cultural Expressions

The Bhil tribe ranks among the largest tribal groups in India and has a documented presence across Vidarbha, particularly in the districts of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.

The 2011 Census reported their population in Maharashtra at over 2.5 million. While Bhili remains their primary language, the Bhil community in Vidarbha also uses Marathi due to regional interactions.

Their main occupation is agriculture, focusing on crops such as maize and pulses. Alongside farming, many Bhils work as agricultural labourers, and some contribute to the region’s artistic traditions through sculpture and painting.

The community’s artistic output is marked by the use of multi-coloured dots to depict everyday scenes, a style exemplified by artists like Bhuri Bai.

This art form captures daily life, farming activities, animals, and cultural narratives in vivid compositions. Religious practices include worship of Hindu deities such as Shiva and Durga, combined with animistic beliefs in spirits associated with forests and nature.

Community celebrations centre around festivals such as Navratri and Holi, often featuring the Ghoomar dance, which remains a vital expression of their cultural identity.

The Koli community, with subgroups including Tokre Koli, Malhar Koli, and Mahadev Koli, also maintains a presence in Vidarbha, particularly in Nagpur and Amravati.

Classified as Scheduled Tribes in Maharashtra for certain subgroups, the Kolis have historically engaged in farming and fishing.

Their role as soldiers and sailors during the periods of regional sultanates underlines their longstanding involvement in both agrarian and martial occupations.

Under British colonial rule, segments of the Koli population were designated as a “Criminal Tribe,” a label that was officially removed in 1952.

Kolis in Vidarbha predominantly speak Marathi. Agriculture remains their principal livelihood, although many from the community now work in government services and teaching.

Koli festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali include folk songs and dances that reflect their agricultural life and historical roles.

Their religious practices combine Hindu worship with animistic rituals, with deities like Khandoba featuring prominently in community shrines.

The livelihoods of both the Bhil and Koli communities continue to be tied to the land. Their occupations, festivals, and art forms contribute significantly to Vidarbha’s social and cultural dynamics.

Despite the benefits provided by Scheduled Tribe status, issues such as poverty, limited healthcare, and educational access persist across these groups.

Halba and Kaikadi: Life Rooted in Farming, Weaving, and Craft

The Halba community is primarily located in the districts of Bhandara and Gadchiroli, where they are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe.

Their main language, Halbi, belongs to the Indo-Aryan family and carries influences from Marathi and Odia.

Agriculture is central to Halba's livelihoods, with rice, millet, and pulses forming the core of their cultivation. Some Halbas also take up labour-intensive work in urban and rural environments. A subgroup known as Halba Koshti maintains weaving traditions, producing textiles that reflect skilled craftsmanship.

Community festivals for the Halbas include Diwali and Holi, where folk music and group events bring people together.

Their religious practices remain centred on Hinduism, especially the worship of Shiva, while also recognising the role of spirits associated with natural elements. The Scheduled Tribe status provides educational and employment reservations, though challenges like low literacy rates and inadequate infrastructure continue to affect daily life.

The Kaikadi community, classified as both a Scheduled Caste and a Denotified Tribe in Maharashtra, holds a different historical experience.

Traditionally nomadic, the Kaikadis were also among the communities marked as “Criminal Tribes” under British rule until the repeal of this designation in 1952. Today, they are largely settled across Vidarbha, engaging in basket-making, fishing, and agricultural labour.

Kaikadis speak the Kaikadi language, part of the Dravidian linguistic family and closely related to Tamil. Cultural customs remain deeply rooted in their community structure, with strict marriage rules observed across nine endogamous septs and exogamous clans.

Religious observances include Nag Panchami, during which they worship Nagas, alongside reverence for Khandoba. Hinduism forms the central religious identity, combined with elements of nature worship.

Despite the availability of government schemes and benefits, Kaikadi communities face ongoing social stigma, poverty, and barriers to literacy.

The occupational patterns and cultural life of the Halba and Kaikadi groups add further dimensions to Vidarbha’s social fabric.

While Halbas maintain agricultural livelihoods and weaving traditions, the Kaikadi community continues to engage in crafts and labour-based work, reflecting a mix of settled and historically nomadic ways of life.

Cultural Ties and Social Realities

The Bhil, Koli, Halba, and Kaikadi communities together form a diverse social landscape within Vidarbha.

Their livelihoods, whether through farming, weaving, basket-making, or art, reflect ongoing relationships with the land and traditional knowledge systems. Languages such as Bhili, Marathi, Halbi, and Kaikadi add to the region’s linguistic variety, strengthening cultural identity across these groups.

Festivals remain an integral part of communal life, providing spaces for social interaction, ritual observance, and artistic expression.

Celebrations of Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali, Holi, and Nag Panchami bring together family and community networks. These festivals also serve as moments where folk dances, songs, and crafts are shared across generations.

Religious beliefs, blending Hindu deities with animistic practices, remain central to the spiritual life of these communities. Worship of Shiva, Durga, Khandoba, and natural spirits reflects a range of faith expressions tied to cultural memory and local geography.

Access to government benefits through Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste recognition offers pathways for education and employment.

Yet, issues of poverty, healthcare access, and low literacy rates remain common across these groups.

The continued reliance on agriculture, combined with modern pressures and limited infrastructure, shapes the everyday experiences of these communities.

The tribal communities of Vidarbha, including the Bhil, Koli, Halba, and Kaikadi groups, contribute to a broad spectrum of cultural and occupational practices.

Through their farming activities, crafts, religious traditions, and community structures, these groups maintain their place in the region’s heritage.

Each community, while shaped by shared geographical space, retains its own patterns of life and cultural identity, forming an essential part of Vidarbha’s social and historical landscape.