Religious Beliefs and Practices among Chuktia Bhunjia Tribe of Odisha: Looking through Anthropological Lens

Drawing from the empirical evidences, this paper narrates the religious beliefs and practices of Chuktia Bhunjia tribe of Odisha who exclusively inhabit interior parts of Sunabeda wildlife sanctuan; located in the Nuapada district. It is inferred from the narrations, collected from octogenarians and through observations (participant and quasi-participant) that religious practices constitute an important part of Bhunjia's life where they bestow their happiness by celebrating rituals and festivals. Gender exclusion in these rituals is clearly noticed that has direct link to their material culture. Most of the religious practices and festivals are related to lifecycle phases, agriculture and collection of minor forest produce. Although the existing customary norms continue to become instrumental in reinforcing people to celebrate rituals; state intervention, acculturation and influence of non-tribals who are said to have migrated to this region in 1970s, are catalytic forces behind the undergoing changes in their traditionally practiced belief patterns and festivals. Nevertheless, the persistence of beliefs, rituals and festivals among them construct an identity of their own.