Clan Exogamy and Ritual Dynamics in Gond Marriage System

Abstract

The Gond Tribe is one of the biggest indigenous tribes in India. These people are mostly found in Central India's forest regions of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Maharashtra. Strong social cohesion and kinship ideals are fostered by the Gonds' highly complex ritualistic and clan-based marriage system. The purpose of this paper is to examine the performative rituals that influence Gond marriages as well as the customs of clan exogamy (Gotra or Sagas).

The Gond culture forbids marriage within the same clan in order to maintain diversity within the tribe and create connections between sagas, which are patrilineal totemic groups that represent ancestor spirits. Marriages between cross-cousins, especially the daughters of the maternal uncles, are favoured in Gond marriages in order to strengthen relationships between the communities and encourage reciprocal exchanges as well as politics. Pre-marriage rituals begin with the exchange of tilak (betrothal mark) and akshat (holy grains), which represent parental acceptance and the beginning of an alliance. The devdevi or pharsagun, which combines the barter practice of bride payment (tili or gonth) and animism via bride capture/negotiated pairing with worship of clan gods, Persa Pen, and Bada Dev, is the most significant ceremony in Gond marriages.

The ritual acts make the gender roles very evident: women sing songs, while males compete in archery competitions and sacrifice animals to demonstrate their masculinity. Despite the modernization trend brought forth by urbanization, education, and regulation, exogamy continues to exist as a kind of cultural resistance.