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Revision as of 02:45, 5 December 2006 by Maleabroad (talk | contribs) (added Bhil military history)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Bhils are a tribal people of central India. They speak Bhil languages, a group of Indic languages.
Bhils are a scheduled tribe in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan in western and central India, as well as in Tripura in far-eastern India, on the border with Bangladesh.
Bhils (Urdu: بھیل)) are also settled in Tharparkar district of Sindh in Pakistan.
The ghoomar dance is one well-known aspect of Bhil culture.
In feudal and colonial times, many Bhil were employed by the ruling Rajput in various capacities, e.g. as shikari because of their knowledge of the terrain. Many had even become warriors in armies. They were in the Mewar army of Maharana Pratap Singh who showered the Mughals with arrows and like Shivaji Maharaj, were experts in guerilla warfare which the Mughals has troublw with so much. Today there is a 'Mewar Bhil Corps.'
In religion, popular Bhil figures are Shabari, who offered Shri Rama and Shri Laxmana 'ber' when they were searching for Sita Devi in the forest. Maharishi Matanga was another Hindu sage that became a Brahmana.
Sources and references
- website of Udaipur,Mewar's royal house - also on the 19th century Mewar Bhil Corps
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