Marriage by purchase and marriage by service are accepted way of finding a bride. The amount of bride price varies according to the economic conditions of tribe. The Bhumias, Oraons, Saharas, Juangs, Santals, Hos, Nagas, Bhils and many other tribes pay for their brides as a general rule. A Kondha of Koraput who is not able to pay the bride price is asked to work under the father-in-law’s house till his final payment.

        Probationary marriage Marriages by trial and intrusion marriage are found in limited cases of tribes in India.

        Marriages among the Bonda tribe are arranged in an extraordinary manner. About two months before Dashara festival each village Naik dig a hole of about 8 square and nine feet deep and roofed with logs and mudso arranged as to leave one small opening. In this all unmarried girls of the village have to sleep. Any youth desirous of matrimony joins them there a night and next morning leaves his brass bracelet with the girl of his choice. The pair after wards goes together to the girl’s people and explain matters. Ultimately with relatives on both the side, they repair to jungles, where a fire is lit and the girl applies it to the boys buttocks. If he cries out in pain the girl refuses him, but if he makes no sound the couple are considered to be man and wife. The system has the advantages of giving both parties a choice in the matter.

        The marriage customs and rituals among the tribals are elaborate and vary from tribe to tribe. It effects the economics life of a person, who gets a wife, to a great extent. It is necessary to discuss in brief the marriage customs and rituals, which is generally found among the tribes.

        The parents of the bridegroom initiate marriages amongst the Soura. They visit the girls parents bearing with them a present of a pot containing palm wine. The reason for their visit is not immediately made plain. However, sooner or later, the name of the girl is mentioned and she is informed by her parent of the proposal. If she consents, they accept the pot of wine and ceremonially drink it before several witness. After several such visits the bride price is finalized. The presentation of an arrow and its acceptance by the bride’s family is equivalent of an engagement. About a year after the engagement the bride is brought to the bridegrooms house & made to the ancestors by a shahman.

        Each tribal marriage is accompained by a lot of feasting and dancing. These are done at Bridegroom’s house at his cost. Marriage of a tribal boy becomes very expensive as it becomes a source of exploration by the money lenders and land grabbers, who are ready to advance money to the tribals at the time of marriage and charge very high rate of interest.

MORTUARY CUSTOMS

        Among the Bauris the dead are either burnt or buried. The corpse is borne in the hands, or on a bier, by four men. Soon after the village boundary is crossed, the widow of the deceased throws rice over the eyes of corpse, and also a little fire, after taking it three times round.

       Among the Bhumias the dead are burnt and pollution lasts for nine days. On the tenth day a ceremonial bath is taken and a feast with copious supplies of liquor is held.

        The Bhottadas burn their dead and observe pollution for ten days during which no agricultural work is done and no food is cooked in the Vasma if the deceased which is fed by some relatives. On the tenth day on which bath is taken some fried rice and new pot are carried to the burning ground and left there.

       Among Chitra-Ghasis the dead are burnt and death pollution is observed for three days during which the caste occupation is not carried on. On the third day the ashes are collected together and a fowl is killed.The ashes are then buried or thrown into running water.

        When a Koya dies, a cow or bullock is slaughtered, and the tail is cut off and put in the dead man’s hand. The liver is said to be put in his mouth. It is customary among the more prosperous families to put a few rupees into the mouth of a corpse before the funeral pyre is lighted. The money is made to represent the value of the animal sacrificed.

       Among the Gadava males, as a rule are burnt but if a person dies in the night or on a rainy day, the corpse is sometimes buried. Women and children are usually buried presumably because they are not thought worth the fuel necessary for cremation. Only relations are permitted touch a corpse. Death pollution is observed for three days, during which the caste occupations must not be engaged in. Stone slabs are erected to the memory of the dead, and sacrifices are offered to them now and again.

        Saora death is an embarrassment, as every death in a family adds a new danger from the other world. But it is not a separation. After death the corpse is laid on its back across the mortar in the central room of the house and is covered with a cloth. Women carry the corpse out of the house and lay in on a plank of wood in the street outside. They remove most of the ornaments, bathe the body and comb the hair.