Current Context : Jharkhand’s Birhor tribe have actively participated in a movement against child marriage in Giridih district, marking a significant cultural shift.

About Birhor Tribe

The Birhor tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Jharkhand, has traditionally been a semi-nomadic, forest-dependent community.

• Location:Primarily found in Jharkhand, with populations also in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
• Language:Speak Birhor, a language belonging to the Munda group of the Austroasiatic language family, sharing similarities with Santali, Mundari, and Ho languages.
• Lifestyle:Historically semi-nomadic, engaging in hunting and gathering, particularly of monkeys. Some have transitioned to settled agriculture.
• Physical Characteristics:Typically of short stature, with long heads, wavy hair, and broad noses.
• Economic Activities:Traditionally rope-making from specific vines, sold in local markets.
• Social Structure:Divided into Uthlus (wandering) and Janghis (settled) groups.