Religion, Magic and Festivals in Tribal Bihar

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This book "Religion, Magic and Festivals in Tribal Bihar" is based on empirical data collected from Netarhat area of Palamau district in Bihar (Presently Jharkhand). It has been stated that various aspects of religion, festivals and magic prevalent among the Birjhias and Kissans tribes of Netarhat area are studied and presented in this book. This book on has some special significance. On one hand, it depicts in depth the physical background of the region and setting up of gradual habitations by some distinctive cultural groups of people of different castes and communities. On the other hand, the multi-ethnic composition of this region slowly assimilated many traits of tribal and other religions including magic and festivals which have been clearly observed from this book. However, this book deals with and depicts mainly the various aspects of magic, religion and festivals prevailing among these groups of people in a broad backdrop well as how these have been linked by uns with the concept of soul.

Though the data presented in this book are from one particular area of present Jharkhand state, I am sure that they will be of immense use in provided insights to those who are involved in research and welfare of tribal people in India and elsewhere. Tribal societies in study area have fewer programmes and funds. So, there is an immediate need to study their life style and livings to understand their plights and problems and to formulate possible interventions for their welfare.

It is very difficult to distinguish magic from religion. Sometimes these are closely related and overlapped. It has thus become one of the most debatable subjects for anthropological discussions, as both magic and religion deal with supernaturals.

Accoriding to encyclopaedia of religion and Ethics, the term 'refers clearly to certain characteristic types of data (beliefs, practices, feelings, moods, attitudes.