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Paahi

 

Paahi is a custom that is followed by the Kamar tribe community residing in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. In this custom, the families leave their houses and head towards deep forests to collect forest produces. The families stay for 3-4 months in the forest, depending upon the availability of forest produces. Their kids tag along with them as nobody is at home to take care of them while they are away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During this period, they go from one place to another within the forest, based on the availability of forest produces. The people risk their lives just for mere survival as they do not have any stable source of income and exchanges or sell the collected produces for other essentials. During the period of stay, they make temporary shelter and cooking arrangements. They drink water by digging sand and usually cook rice that they carry with either hunted birds or gathered vegetables.

Kamar tribe falls under the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) whose total population in India is only 25960 (as per Census 2011). They are majorly based in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and some parts of Orrisa. Although, in Orrisa they are known as Paharia who are still fighting for recognition as a tribe.

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